Key takeaways about pain specialist to star athletes accused of issuing illegal opioid prescriptions
- Joan Rubinger is a nurse practitioner who built a prominent sports medicine practice treating many professional athletes.
- The DEA alleges that Rubinger issued illegal prescriptions for highly addictive painkillers without a legitimate medical purpose.
- Rubinger's authority to prescribe controlled substances was revoked by the DEA due to egregious conduct.
- She agreed to pay $1.4 million to settle a civil complaint without admitting wrongdoing.
- Rubinger has not been criminally charged despite allegations of violating federal drug laws over 900 times.
Joan Rubinger built a prominent sports medicine practice treating some of the biggest names in professional sports. The nurse practitioner’s website touts a client list that includes 169 NFL Pro Bowl selections, 29 NBA and WNBA champions and 15 Olympic medalists.
However, behind the scenes, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration alleged in court filings that Rubinger secretly doled out illegal prescriptions for hundreds of thousands of highly addictive painkillers to clients in more than 20 states. Authorities allege she issued controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose and instructed clients on how to avoid scrutiny from federal investigators.
The DEA last month revoked the nurse practitioner’s authority to prescribe controlled substances, citing what an administrative law judge found to be egregious conduct. Rubinger also agreed in March to pay $1.4 million to settle a Justice Department civil complaint in which she didn’t admit any wrongdoing. Rubinger has not been criminally charged.
关于一名为明星运动员提供服务的疼痛专家被指控非法开具阿片类药物处方的要点
琼·鲁宾格为许多职业运动员提供服务，建立了显著的运动医学实践。她的网站展示了包括169名NFL职业碗选手、29名NBA和WNBA冠军以及15名奥运奖牌得主在内的客户名单。
然而，美国缉毒局在法庭文件中指控鲁宾格在幕后秘密向来自20多个州的客户开具数十万份高度上瘾的止痛药的非法处方。有关当局指控她在没有合法医疗目的的情况下开具管制药物，并指导客户如何避免联邦调查人员的审查。
上个月，美国缉毒局撤销了这名护士执业者的管制药物处方权，理由是行政法官发现其行为极为不当。鲁宾格还在三月份同意支付140万美元以解决一项司法部的民事投诉，但未承认任何不当行为。鲁宾格尚未被刑事起诉。