Pain doctor accused in deaths defended by peer

A prominent pain doctor is defending the physician indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges of prescribing medications that caused the death of five patients.

Dr. James P. Murphy, who is board chairman of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, said that while he doesn't know the details of the charges against Dr. Jaime Guerrero, "I do know that he does not dole out handfuls of pills for cash. He is not getting rich on Medicaid."

Murphy added that he was speaking only for himself.

In a blog post defending pain doctors generally, Murphy also said Guerrero is "merely a sole practitioner willing to embrace suffering people, many of whom are among the most marginalized, downtrodden, and castoff in our economically blighted community."

Guerrero, 47, pleaded not guilty Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colin Lindsay, who released him on a $50,000 unsecured bond after he promised to surrender his passport and his DEA license to prescribe controlled drugs.

A jury trial is was set for March 31 before Senior U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II.

The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure and the Indiana Medical Licensing Board suspended Guerrero following his indictment on charges of causing patient deaths by issuing medically unnecessary prescriptions. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Guerrero, who has offices in Louisville and Jeffersonville, Ind., is also charged with health care fraud.

Murphy said in his post that he knew Guerrero because they practice at Clark Memorial Hospital.

Murphy's remarks were part of a piece in which he calls for the observance of "Pain Care Providers Day" March 20. The post says that pain doctors are under-appreciated and have been unfairly vilified.

Reporter Andrew Wolfson can be reached at (502) 582-7189