Doctor accused of illegally dispensing pain pills

Thursday, April 9, 2009

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LAKELAND (Bay News 9) -- A Lakeland doctor and some members of his staff have been indicted on charges that they conspired to illegally dispense addictive painkillers.

According to Bay News 9's partner paper, the Ledger, Dr. Jeffrey Friedlander, 50, and three members of his staff are accused of signing blank prescriptions and letting his staff fill in the dosage and drug type.

Investigators said the group sometimes gave drugs to patients who they knew were addicted to or abusing the drugs.

Troy Wubbena, 43, physician assistant, Carl Ehresman, 42, emergency medical technician and Sarah Ehresman, 43, a clinic employee, were also arrested.

All four suspects operated the Neurology and Pain Center located at 1810 Lakeland Hills Blvd. in Lakeland.

They are facing charges of conspiring illegally to distribute and dispense oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone and alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, and distributing and dispensing controlled substances without a valid medical purpose.