Doctor at Center of Prescription Abuse
In Nevada a family doctor is under investigation by state authorities for his questionable prescription drug practices. Regardless of several complaints filed against him with the Nevada State Medical Examiners Board, he is still in possession of his medical license and his practice has not been restricted. Dr. Kevin Buckwalter has been accused of writing excessive doses of pain killers, many leading to death and addiction. After a review of patient provided medical records, expert Dr. Andrea Trescot, a nationally known pain management specialist told the Las Vegas Sun, ““He (Buckwalter) needs to have an emergency revocation of his license.” Among Buckwalters’ patients was a man that was prescribed more than 20,000 pills to treat pain from a neck injury. The number of pills led him to enter an addiction recovery program. A 26-year old woman died after overdosing on painkillers. She had more than 150 painkillers prescribed to her a month and up to 300 extra-strength Xanax pills at a time. Another woman died from complications of a side effect she experienced. Another woman killed herself after being prescribed 310 pills of oxycodone to kick an OxyContin addiction. Medical experts working with the Las Vegas Sun felt Buckwalter’s care was so poor it may constitute medical malpractice. It’s unconscionable that considering his poor level of care that Buckwalter can still practice medicine.
