In Parkhurst Exchange magazine's cover story this month, Brampton GP Alan Russell details the growing problem of drug-scamming patients. "I still wince," writes Dr Russell, "when I think of an empty bottle bearing my name that was found outside a school two days after being filled."
Also in the issue: a Q&A with undercover cop Dave Stinson, of the Toronto Police's prescription-drug trafficking and abuse squad. Mr Stinson -- who had to interrupt the interview at one point to follow a suspect and buy some heroin -- has investigated patient-scammers as well as corrupt doctors, and he helped put away Toronto physician John Kitakufe for eight years.
"I think doctors are in a tough spot. They have confidentiality issues at the highest level. That’s the way our country, our province approaches that, and that’s a good thing -- nobody wants their health records shared with law enforcement. By the same token, as a just society, to quote Trudeau, it shouldn’t and we can’t allow it to be used as a veil to hide criminality. What I'm seeing is an increase in criminality that not only involves the public getting involved -- there is a greater demand than ever before for prescription drugs -- but also healthcare professionals unfortunately acting in a criminal way themselves."Read the web-exclusive full-length interview here.
The entire October issue is online here, save for a few pieces that you'll have to read in the print version.
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