Todd Graham, MD, a physician at Mishawaka, Ind.-based South Bend Orthopedics, refused to prescribe opioids to Petra Jarvis for chronic pain. Her husband, Michael Jarvis, returned to the facility a couple hours later and followed the physician to St. Joseph Rehabilitation Institute, also in Mishawaka. Mr. Jarvis confronted Dr. Graham in the facility’s parking lot and, after an argument, shot and killed him.
Mr. Jarvis then drove to a friend’s home where he “gave indication that he was no longer going to be around,” said Ken Cotter, St. Joseph County prosecutor, during a press conference. The friend called the police, but Mr. Jarvis killed himself outside his friend’s home before police could arrive. It is unclear whether Mr. or Mrs. Jarvis were addicted to opioids, according to the Post.
“He did what we ask our doctors to do: Don’t overprescribe opioid[s], and, unfortunately, for whatever reason, [Mr.] Jarvis made that choice to take his life,” Mr. Cotter told reporters. “Every homicide is tragic, but this one in particular, I think, hits home to everyone. It hits home to all of our medical professionals. Their job is to try to help people, and that certainly [is] what Dr. Graham was doing.”
More articles on opioids:
FDA votes down Intellipharmaceutic’s long-acting opioid: 5 things to know
Fatal car crashes linked to opioids jump 700% in 20 years
Sen. McCaskill expands opioid investigation
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