Lawrence Doctor Among 12 Who May Have CDS Registration Revoked

A Lawrence-based doctor is among 12 physicians in the state named in an action seeking to strip them of their right to prescribe controlled dangerous substances (CDS), including highly addictive painkillers. The action was filed by Division of Consumer Affairs Director Eric T. Kanefsky, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced on Thursday.

The New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners prescribes medical licenses, but it is the Division of Consumer Affairs that issues and restores CDS registrations.

William Kropinicki pleaded guilty to multiple counts of illegally prescribing CDS in October, 2012. This included conspiracy and distribution of oxycodone, Hoffman said. He was sentenced to seven years in state prison and had his medical license revoked by the Board of Medical Examiners in September, 2008.

Kropinicki accepted $100 for multiple prescriptions of Percocet, issued in at least eight different patient names, according to information provided by Kanefsky in an Order to Show Probable Cause. The order also states he falsified patient records in the fake names to justify the prescription.

Kropinicki and each of the other doctors named has a hearing within 45 days of the Order being issued. Prior to that date, the doctor must provide a written rationale as to why their license shouldn’t be revoked. If the doctor fails to do this, the matter may be decided in his absence, Hoffman said.

After the hearing, Kanefsky may issue an order suspending or revoking their CDS registration.

Only one of the 12 doctors was not convicted in a state or federal court. The 12th doctor’s medical license was revoked due to a civil complaint that he indiscriminately prescribed CDS.

“Revocation of a doctor’s CDS registration, when a doctor has already been criminally convicted or lost his or her license, creates an additional barrier that will protect the public, should any of these doctors seek to have their medical license restored,” Hoffman said.