MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A Madison doctor will pay $110,000 to settle federal allegations that he wrote prescriptions for controlled substances with no legitimate medical purpose.
The settlement agreement says Dr. David Eckerle has denied the allegations and his medical license remains active.
U.S. Attorney Timothy O’Shea brought the civil case against Eckerle and accused him of violating the Controlled Substances Act.
“The opioid epidemic has caused great harm and deep sadness to individuals, families, and communities here in Wisconsin,” O’Shea said. “In cases unrelated to this matter, this office has seen opiate addictions that begin with a doctor over-prescribing opiate pain pills and that end with the former patient overdosing on heroin or going to prison for drug-related crimes. Wisconsin physicians who increase risks of opiate addiction by irresponsibly prescribing opioids will be held accountable.”
Eckerle worked at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin and did not treat patients during the federal investigation, officials said. Group Health said Eckerle is no longer an employee, the State Journal reported.
The government alleged that between May 2016 and January 2020, Eckerle wrote prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances that had no legitimate medical purpose and were not issued in the usual course of professional practice, according to the settlement agreement.
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