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Improperly issued prescriptions for Xanex, Percocet
As the climax to an investigation by state and local authorities, a Camden physician has lost his New Jersey medical license for indiscriminately prescribing controlled dangerous substances.
Dr. Henry L. Morganstein, D.O., 71, practicing medicine from his 1809 South Broadway office, admitted to investigators that he wrote voluminous and improper prescriptions for Promethazine with Codeine, Xanax, Percocet and other substances for a number of people. In addition, Morganstein consented to halt his practice of medicine and surgery, and surrendered his prescription-writing registrations and prescription pad.
The surrender of Morganstein's medical license, which is in effect a revocation, comes on the heels of the arrests of two of his medical clerks for fraudulently obtaining unauthorized prescriptions. Lateesha Green, 27, of Westville, and Ameera Lawson, 27, of Camden, were arrested last week by the Gloucester City police for allegedly engaging in an organized drug ring of obtaining Promethazine and Xanax unlawfully. Their case is being prosecuted by the Camden County prosecutor.
The state Board of Medical Examiners, which licenses approximately 33,000 physicians practicing in New Jersey, on Tuesday reviewed and approved Morganstein's agreement to give up his license."The abuse of these prescriptions is a well-documented problem and Dr. Morganstein, by his own admission, prescribed large quantities of these drugs unlawfully," state Attorney General Paula T. Dow said.
"The division, in tandem with our law enforcement partners, acted expeditiously to shut down Dr. Morganstein's one-stop drug shop," state Acting Consumer affairs Director Thomas R. Calcagni said. "Simply stated, his prolific and indiscriminate prescribing practices put people's lives at risk and are an affront to the values of his profession."
The Division of Consumer Affairs' Bureau of Enforcement, as well as Det. Carl DePoder of the Gloucester City police and Division Investigator Donna Walker of the DEA are handling the ongoing investigation.
– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
