One Illinois doctor is accused of prescribing excessive amounts of drugs to his patients, and as a result, had his medical license suspended earlier this month. Although the 75-year-old man says he is not ready to quit, he will not fight the suspension and plans to retire.

One patient claims that the doctor wrote prescriptions for controlled substances in exchange for Ritalin. Another patient was hospitalized for an overdose after taking medication prescribed by the doctor. These claims illustrate just some of the errors made by the physician.

In 2002, the doctor's license was suspended after he was accused of prescribing controlled substances without examining patients and failing to keep track of the drugs he prescribed, along with other allegations. More recently, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration conducted an investigation after the doctor was fired from the Sangamon County Pain Center in April. According to documents, the doctor threatened to commit suicide, but later claimed he wasn't serious about the threat and was fired only after a disagreement with the owner about clinic operations.

That same month, the patient who alleges the doctor prescribed him drugs in exchange for Ritalin was arrested for reportedly trying to sell drugs that were prescribed to him. In addition, state officials say the doctor continued to prescribe controlled substances after his license expired in July.

People who work in the medical community have an obligation to give their patients the best care possible, and when they fail to do so, there are consequences. In this case, it appears the doctor was negligent on more than one occasion. Despite his desire to continue practicing, the evidence suggests that he is no longer fit to continue seeing patients.

Source: The State Journal-Register, "Doctor won't challenge license suspension over drug prescriptions," Dean Olsen, Dec. 2, 2011