Doctor barred from prescribing narcotics after patient death

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) — A Walla Walla doctor has been barred from issuing certain prescriptions after one of his patients died after being overmedicated.

The Union-Bulletin reports the Washington state Department of Health has restricted Dr. Gerald Craigg from prescribing narcotics and other controlled substances after allegations that he overprescribed narcotics to his patients.

The state medical commission says Craigg prescribed a combination of high-doses of methadone and other narcotics to multiple patients without the required evaluations and monitoring.

Charges allege that Craigg inappropriately prescribed medication for the patient who died and provided incorrect dosing instructions to the patient's caregivers.

Craigg received his state medical license in 2005. He has 20 days to contest the restriction on his prescribing authority.