Georgia Prescription Fraud Lawyers
From politicians to movie stars, it seems that many headlines are covering prescription fraud. Addictions to painkillers are the most common reason people commit prescription fraud. In fact, most people who commit this crime have been legally prescribed the medication in the past for a specific medical purpose then become addicted. If you have been charged with prescription fraud, please contact a Georgia prescription fraud lawyer right away.
Women are more likely to commit prescription fraud because studies have found that more women are prescribed addictive drugs than men. And many of these women work in the healthcare industry and have access to writing and filling prescriptions themselves.
The types of prescription fraud
It is illegal for anyone to alter a prescription written by a medical doctor. For example, a person cannot increase their prescription or change the type of medication they were prescribed. People are also caught phoning in fake prescriptions and impersonating medical personnel. Another common type of prescription fraud is forging the label.
And if you are prescribed a medication from one doctor, it is illegal to visit other doctors in an attempt to try to get more prescriptions written for you. This is called doctor shopping and it is illegal. There have also been cases where medical staff or patients steal blank prescription pads. With the advent of the Internet, some people try to get their prescriptions filled online in a fraudulent manner.
Penalties for prescription fraud
While you may not think prescription fraud is a serious criminal offense, it is. Prescriptions are drugs, too and while they are not illegal drugs they are being used in an illegal manner so the penalties can be quite serious. If convicted of prescription fraud, you’ll be faced with a felony, which can mean jail time, expensive fines and addiction treatment.
This is a sensitive area of law and one that requires a committed defense attorney. Your attorney will review your statements to see if any of your rights were violated. Your attorney may also be able to help reduce the charges against you and substitute jail time for drug assessment.
