License Suspended For Bergen Doc Who Improperly Prescribed Pills: AG

A Bergen County physician’s medical license will be temporarily suspended beginning Friday after he allegedly “indiscriminately prescribed powerful prescription painkillers,” and did not take appropriate action when the drugs could have been illegal given to other people, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said.

The State Board of Medical Examiners found that Dr. Eric Thomas also failed to act after urine tests showed that his patients took illegal drugs, including cocaine and heroin, Hoffman said. The tests also showed that there were no trace of the pain killers that Thomas prescribed, an alleged sign that the patients may have been providing the pills to others.

“Prescription drug abuse, particularly abuse involving painkillers, is a national problem, one that Dr. Thomas abetted through his negligent practice of medicine,” Hoffman said in a statement. “The flood of prescription pain killers in our communities starts with indiscriminate prescribing by physicians violating their duty to do no harm.”

Thomas’ practice is located in North Arlington. He also allegedly prescribed painkillers “without adequate medical justification, including Oxycodeon, OxyContin, and others,” Hoffman said.

The board also found that Thomas did not appropriately respond when he found that some patients had high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, and other medial conditions, authorities said.

The suspension is temporary pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing by the board, said Jeff Lamm, a spokesperson with the Attorney General’s Office. The board will make a final determination on the suspension at the hearing.

County officials and police departments throughout North Jersey have placed more emphasis on combating prescription drug abuse. They encourage residents suffering from drug dependency to seek help. Police departments encourage residents to turn their unused prescription drugs to them during buyback events.