A Pennsylvania dentist was ordered to pay a $1 million fine after pleading guilty to refusing to keep proper records relating to controlled substances, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
In addition, Dr. Daniel Garner, 50, was sentenced to 18 months of probation and levied an assessment of $25, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
According to the release, from July 2011 to August 2015, Garner reportedly failed and refused to make, keep, or furnish records required to substantiate the legitimate medical purpose for prescriptions he issued to his dental patients for controlled substances, primarily the painkiller oxycodone. Garner's treatment notes allegedly often did not contain any reference to the patient's pain when he prescribed opioids. Also, he purportedly didn't explain why a narcotic rather than a noncontrolled substance pain reliever was necessary.
