Another N.J. Doctor Loses Job In Statewide Crackdown On Deadly Drug

At least six New Jersey doctors have now lost their jobs in a statewide crackdown on opioid drugs over the past year.

A Passaic County foot doctor has had his license suspended amid allegations he prescribed large quantities of painkillers to patients, the State Board of Medical Examiners announced Thursday.

Anthony Enrico, who has maintained practices in and around Paterson and Passaic, is accused of indiscriminate prescribing the painkillers and practicing outside the scope of his podiatry license, according to a complaint filed against him by Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino.

The allegations against Enrico stem from his treatment of seven patients between 2011 and 2016. The patients – five males and two females between the ages of 33 and 61 – were all diagnosed with virtually the same conditions of the foot and lower leg, according to a release from Porrino's office.

Enrico's suspension comes after 16 New Jersey doctors' offices have been investigated, and a statewide alert was issued last year for opioid painkillers that officials say caused at least one death in New Jersey. Three doctors were either suspended or lost their license in January, and another two faced disciplinary action in November in connection with the crackdown.

Enrico, who prescribed opioids for years "without any legitimate medical purpose," will remain under temporary suspension until those allegations are "fully resolved," according to the release from the Office of Attorney General. The OAG said he prescribed drugs to treat conditions unrelated to podiatry.

“We have made it abundantly clear that we will not allow unscrupulous doctors to fuel New Jersey’s opioid crisis by indiscriminately prescribing painkillers and other narcotics that serve as gateways to addiction," Porrino said in the release. “The action against Dr. Enrico demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting the public from any doctor suspected of allowing dangerous, habit-forming drugs to flow unchecked into our communities."

According to the complaint, Enrico demonstrated gross negligence and endangered the welfare of his patients by:

• Treating them with large quantities of addictive opiates – primarily oxycodone – for years, despite knowing there was a strong potential for the abuse or diversion of these drugs.
• Prescribing narcotics to treat diagnoses where narcotics are not the accepted form of treatment.
• Failing to assess patients for any substance abuse problems, enter into a controlled dangerous substances agreement with each of them, or assess the efficacy of the narcotics he prescribed.
• Failing to refer patients for an evaluation by a pain management specialist.
• Failing to treat his patients’ underlying podiatric conditions.
• Practicing outside the scope of his license in podiatry by prescribing controlled dangerous drugs like Xanax and Ambien to treat conditions unrelated to podiatry.

The nine-count complaint for the temporary suspension of Enrico’s license was filed on Jan. 24 and scheduled for a hearing before the Board on Feb. 8,. That hearing was adjourned at Enrico’s request after he voluntarily agreed to stop practicing pending the outcome of the hearing.

The hearing was held before the board on April 5, during which the state presented evidence that Enrico’s continued practice posed a clear and imminent danger to the public.

“No remedial measure less than the full temporary suspension of his podiatric license will suffice to protect the public interest,” the board concluded in voting for the temporary suspension.

Enrico’s license will remain temporarily suspended pending a full hearing in the Office of Administrative Law on the allegations against him and until the board takes final action based on the OAL’s findings, according to the release.

Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.