Kansas City, MO:Ruling on Pharmacist Diluted Drug Confession

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Ruling on Diluted Drug Confession

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20020125/hl/brf_diluted_drugs_3.html

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The confession of a pharmacist accused of diluting chemotherapy drugs for profit should be allowed at his trial, a federal magistrate recommended.

Attorneys for Robert R. Courtney argued that the pharmacist had thought he was negotiating a plea agreement, which would mean the confession would not be admissible at trial.

U.S. Magistrate Robert E. Lorificen rejected that argument Tuesday, saying it was clear that no plea offer was made and that Courtney's attorney had been told the government wasn't interested in negotiating.

A federal judge will make the final decision.

Courtney's attorney, J.R. Hobbs, said Thursday he hadn't decided whether to appeal, which would involve asking the judge to go against Lorificen's recommendation.

Courtney, 49, faces 20 federal charges of diluting, adulterating and misbranding the chemotherapy drugs Gemzar and Taxol. Prosecutors have said he told the FBI (news - web sites) he diluted more than 100 doses of drugs because he owed more than $600,000 in taxes and $330,000 on a pledge to his church.

Courtney, who has pleaded innocent, was first interviewed by federal agents in August, when they raided his pharmacy.

According to court documents, they told Courtney they believed the public was at risk and that he could help by telling them which drugs were diluted and to whom they were sent.

The case is scheduled to go to trial March 11.

[GreytNurse]

He told FBI that he did dilute the Rx due to $$$$$$ .....and 'mentioned his church'....... , then he pleads 'not guilty'???????????

This man should be shot. Just think of the pts. who 'thought' they were getting medication they paid for and 'thought' it was helping to save/prolong their lives......... I've heard of this, since I live here......boy it makes me so darn mad.

But you know, when he is in prison and gets sick.........yep, you guessed it, he'll get the proper medication to cure him.......let's hope there is no cure for sicko's like this!!!!1

[KC CHICK]

He should be tried by a jury of his previous patients.

In the past few years, my mother has lost a few friends to cancer. It makes me sick that this man even thought about doing this, let alone carry out the act. Scary, too......his neighborhood is just a few miles away from my own. You just never know where the next freak will pop up. I hope they take away everything he owns as well as his freedom.

Anne.

[GreytNurse]

Hey KC Chick......I used to live in Lawrence. One of my best friends is a ER nurse in KC. How did you 'fare' with the recent ice storm?????

I hope this guy gets his and gets it good......I agree with you that the jury should be former pts....... Makes you wonder how many others there are.......some people would do anything for $$$$...from selling out their mother to their own soul.......sad huh??

[KC CHICK]

Since you asked, we did VERY well during this ice storm. There was a monster cottonwood tree that was about 80-90 ft tall and 4 ft. in diameter at the base that we had cut down about 2-3 weeks ago. This thing could have been a MAJOR problem for us.....it had grown so close to the house that the base was growing into the wood siding!!! Some of the branches of this thing were also above the house. We had another tree taken out at the same time...an Ash that was hanging over our power lines.

Is that timing or what!??! As for our other trees, there were no big losses....just a few twigs down. We didn't lose power at all!

Someone, or something, was definately looking out for us.....that's the only way I can explain the timing. Who could've possibly known that we'd have this storm a few weeks later?

Anne:D