A New York physician under federal indictment in the opioid overdose deaths of at least six patients petitioned a judge earlier this week to allow him to take on additional patients through a job at a different clinic, according to NBC News.
Here are five things to know about the case.
1. Dr. Eugene Gosy, a practitioner at Williamsville, N.Y.-based Pain Management Associates of WNY, was indicted on narcotics and fraud charges in 2016. Prosecutors claimed Dr. Gosy, 55, purposely gave patients opioids for pain management to profit off of their potential addiction to the drugs, according to the report. A superseding indictment against Dr. Gosy in 2017 alleged he had "caused the death of at least six individuals, and contributed to the deaths of others," NBC News reports.
2. A judge ruled Dr. Gosy, who retains his medical license, may continue to practice at Pain Management Associates of WNY as the case proceeds, provided other licensed physicians retain final say in any treatments or medications he issues to patients.
3. Dr. Gosy has pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming all pain medication he prescribed to patients was legitimate, according to the report.
4. Earlier this week, Dr. Gosy and his lawyers filed a motion asking a judge to modify his bail conditions to allow him to see patients at Buffalo, N.Y.-based Invision Health, which reportedly offered him a job. The clinic issued a letter to the U.S. attorney's office April 13 stating it was aware of the indictment against Dr. Gosy.
"If the recommendation of a controlled substance is indicated by Dr. Gosy, the assigned supervising physician, if appropriate, may approve and issue the controlled substance prescription," the clinic wrote in the letter, obtained by NBC News. "Invision Health is sensitive to the opioid epidemic crisis and has always implemented strict policies in regard to controlled substance prescribing."
5. Dr. Gosy's lawyer said the physician is expected to begin work at Invision Health April 26, according to WIVB-4.
To access the full report, click here.