The death of a vulnerable woman exemplifies the devastating impact of Ballard’s disregard for his patients and profession,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. “Physicians are entrusted to care for patients and prescribe medically necessary medications. opioid epidemic one case at a time, and today’s sentencing demonstrates our commitment to justice.” Those who supply opioids illegally have one thing in common: they demonstrate total disregard for the lives and safety of those who live in our communities. “DEA tirelessly pursues the people responsible for flooding our nation with illegal drugs, to include doctors who misuse their positions for personal gain. “With blatant disregard for the Hippocratic Oath, Ballard endangered his patients’ lives through illegitimate and reckless prescribing,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This serious criminal conduct requires serious consequences.” Those responsible for fatal overdoses – especially those who are in positions of trust like Ballard – must be held accountable for their roles in the opioid epidemic. “Loss of life is a tragic outcome of physicians like Ballard acting as drug dealers instead of doctors. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of physicians causing death by illegally prescribing opioids,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. On June 23, 2021, Ballard pleaded guilty to one count of illegal drug distribution resulting in death. She fatally overdosed on the prescription drug the following day. Nevertheless, Ballard prescribed the patient hydrocodone repeatedly, including on May 28, 2015. The records also reflected that the patient had been incarcerated, received prescriptions elsewhere for Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid dependency disorder, and that she had abnormal drug testing results, including because of what Ballard believed was tampering. Ballard’s treatment records indicated that he believed the patient had psychiatric issues, overutilized medication, had engaged in manipulation, and fabricated personal trauma. These abuses were often reflected in Ballard’s own medical records.īallard’s unlawful prescribing to one patient led to her death. Among other things, Ballard engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with several female patients while he ignored red flags that they were abusing the medications he prescribed. Ballard III, 63, of Jackson, a medical doctor, owned and operated the Ballard Clinic, where he prescribed controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. A Tennessee physician was sentenced today in the Western District of Tennessee to 20 years in prison for his unlawful prescribing of opioids that caused the death of one of his patients.Īccording to court documents, Thomas K.
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