Doctor gets 30 years to life for murders in L.A. case tied to patients' overdoses

Read the full story here:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-doctor-murder-overdose-drugs-sentencing-20160205-story.html

A judge on Friday sentenced a Rowland Heights doctor to 30 years to life in prison for the murders of three of her patients who fatally overdosed, ending a landmark case that some medical experts say could reshape how doctors nationwide handle prescriptions.

The sentence came after a Los Angeles jury last year found Dr. Hsiu-Ying “Lisa” Tseng guilty of second-degree murder, the first time a doctor had been convicted of murder in the U.S. for overprescribing drugs.Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli said before sentencing Tseng that she had attempted to blame patients, pharmacists and other doctors rather than take responsibility for her own actions."It seems to be an attempt to put the blame on someone else," he said. "Very irresponsible."The trial had already had a "deterrent effect" on other doctors and has captured the medical community's attention.

"More primary care physicians no longer accept or treat chronic pain patients in their practice," he told the judge.Outside the courtroom, Osinoff said Tseng's prosecution has had a negative impact on physicians and patients."The doctors are scared out of their minds," he said. "The pendulum has swung so far. The people who need [pain medication] can't get it now."Other medical experts have echoed his concerns since Tseng was charged in 2012.

“When you use the word 'murder,'” said Dr. Peter Staats, president of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, “of course it’s going to have a chilling effect.”Staats said he believes an aggressive medical board – not prosecutors – should go after reckless doctors. But, he added, any doctor who is prescribing pills knowing that they are being abused or diverted shouldn’t be called a doctor.“That’s not the practice of medicine,” Staats said.