New River doctor goes on trial over unregistered prescriptions – www.roanoke.com

Posted: Published on February 12th, 2013

This post was added by Dr P. Richardson

Linda Sue Cheek

A New River Valley doctor was likened to a drug dealer Monday as her trial began on charges of illegally distributing pain medications to her patients.

In opening statements to a jury in Roanoke's federal court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Waering described how Linda Sue Cheek prescribed drugs either without a valid DEA registration or by using that of another doctor.

Cheek did not accept insurance, charging her new patients $150 and then additional fees for up to a three-month supply of painkillers.

"That sounds like a drug dealer," Waering said. "More drugs for more cash."

In a trial expected to last at least two weeks, Cheek is facing a 173-count indictment that charges her with illegally prescribing drugs at New River Medical Associates, a pain management practice she ran in Dublin.

Defense attorney Shawn Potter described Cheek, 64, as a doctor with good intentions who became confused by complicated government regulations.

Cheek is charged with distributing a variety of pain medications - including oxycodone and hydrocodone - without holding a valid certificate from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In 2008, the Virginia Board of Medicine suspended Cheek's license after she was convicted of health care fraud for improperly billing Medicare and Medicaid.

Her license was reinstated in 2009 after Cheek completed a number of requirements, including taking board-ordered training in pain management.

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New River doctor goes on trial over unregistered prescriptions - http://www.roanoke.com

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