United States Obtains $400,000 Judgement against Oklahoma Physician for Issuing Invalid Prescription for Schedule II Controlled Substances

OKLAHOMA CITY – A judgment for $400,000 has been entered against CHRISTOPHER BRADSHAW, D.O. (“Dr. Bradshaw”) in a civil lawsuit for issuing invalid prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances in violation of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (“Act”) and its regulations, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.

During the relevant time, Dr. Bradshaw was licensed by the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners to practice medicine in the State of Oklahoma. Dr. Bradshaw also was a DEA registrant having a registered address in Oklahoma City, OK.

Schedule II controlled substances are those with a high potential for abuse that may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence and that have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. The Schedule II substances at issue in this lawsuit were Adderall® (amphetamine mixed salts), Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), and Norco® (hydrocodone, bitartrate, and acetaminophen).

To be valid under the Act, a prescription for Schedule II controlled substances must be issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting in the usual course of his or her professional practice. In the State of Oklahoma:

1. Osteopathic physicians cannot sign blank prescription forms;
2. Osteopathic physicians may not dispense, prescribe, administer, or otherwise distribute any drug, controlled substance, or other treatment without sufficient examination or the establishment of a physician/patient relationship; and
3. Osteopathic physicians may not issue a prescription for a controlled substance without documentation, diagnosis, and physical exam.

From March 29, 2019, to May 4, 2020, Dr. Bradshaw issued sixteen prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances without documentation, physical exam, or the establishment of a physician-patient relationship with the recipients. This unprofessional conduct was outside the course of usual professional practice and violated federal and Oklahoma law.

On October 17, 2024, United States District Judge Jodi W. Dishman entered a default judgment in favor of the United States and directed Dr. Bradshaw to pay civil penalties in the amount of $400,000, which represents a $25,000 penalty for each of the sixteen violations of the Act. In determining the appropriate penalty amount, the Court considered a number of factors, including the egregiousness of Dr. Bradshaw’s conduct, the risks associated with Schedule II controlled substances, the potential for public harm, and the need for meaningful deterrence against future infractions.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda R. Johnson and Ronald R. Gallegos prosecuted the case.