Doctor Agrees To Resolve Controlled Substances Act Violations

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dr. Robert Ettlinger, age 63, a primary care doctor formerly practicing in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $45,000 to settle allegations that he violated the federal Controlled Substances Act by prescribing schedule II opioid controlled substance medications, which were issued for no legitimate medical purpose.

According to the investigation by the DEA, Dr. Ettlinger wrote 185 opioid prescriptions to six of his patients between 2013 and 2015, which were issued with no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of his professional practice, resulting in civil violations of the Controlled Substances Act.  Dr. Ettlinger cooperated with the DEA’s investigation.

The settlement of the case resolves the matter without the filing of litigation.  The settlement is neither an admission of liability by Dr. Ettlinger nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well-founded.

As part of the settlement, Dr. Ettlinger entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA under which he agreed to comply with heightened compliance requirements for prescribing controlled substances.

This case was investigated by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, DEA, and Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Enforcement & Investigations.  This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Swauger for the United States Attorney’s Office.

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