A New York City physician was indicted in the death of two patients after he was accused of overprescribing a mix of an opioid painkiller, an anti-anxiety pill and a muscle relaxer, NBC News reports.
Charges against Lawrence Choy, MD, include manslaughter and the criminal sale of prescriptions. Police arrested the 65-year-old physician in March in Sheboygan, Wis. Officials said he moved to Wisconsin after realizing he was being investigated, according to the report.
Dr. Choy is charged with prescribing oxycodone, Xanax and a muscle relaxer to two patients — both of whom died within three days of their last appointment with the physician.
The investigation revealed Dr. Choy "personally observed the patients' physical and mental states deteriorate, while disregarding reports about patients' involvement in accidents, including motor vehicle accidents," the Drug Enforcement Administration said, according to NBC.
Dr. Choy also is being charged with reckless endangerment in the death of another patient as well as eight living patients.
Dr. Choy's attorney did not return NBC's request for comment.