A federal jury in Kentucky convicted a dentist Thursday for unlawfully prescribing opioids, including unlawfully prescribing morphine that caused his patient’s death, officials stated.
According to court evidence, Dr. Jay M. Sadrinia, 60, of Villa Hills, Kentucky, owned and operated dental clinics in Crescent Springs.
Despite clear signs – including being told explicitly that his prescribing of controlled substances was dangerous and put his patients’ lives at risk – Sadrinia prescribed powerful opioids to his patients for routine dental procedures.
Sardinia unlawfully prescribed morphine to one patient, which caused the patient’s death.
He charged $37,000 for dental procedures and prescribed the patient medically unnecessary quantities of narcotics, including morphine. Several days later, the patient fatally overdosed on the morphine.
Sadrinia was convicted of one count of unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulting in death and one count of unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 13. He faces up to life in prison.
The FBI and DEA investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Katherine Payerle and Trial Attorney Thomas D. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.