A doctor in Manhattan, Kan., has been charged with unlawfully prescribing prescription drugs.

Federal prosecutors filed one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances against physician Michael Schuster

Schuster operates Manhattan Pain and Spine in Manhattan, Kan.

 

The complaint alleges that Schuster employed unlicensed staff members who distributed controlled substances to patients using Schuster’s signature on prescriptions while he was traveling out of the state or out of the country. The indictment alleges that Schuster was out of the office when a total of 542 patients received prescriptions for narcotic medications.

According to an investigator’s affidavit, the investigation began early in 2012 when the Riley County Police Department received reports that Schuster was issuing prescriptions for high dosages of scheduled drugs based on minimal or cursory physical examinations.

As a result, several patients had overdosed on their medications and Riley County Police were investigating the diversion of prescription drugs. Simultaneously, physicians and hospital staff at Fort Riley voiced concerns to Army Criminal Investigative Division that active duty soldiers and family members who died from overdoses were patients of Schuster.

Investigators examined records indicating Schuster prescribed unusually high dosages of scheduled narcotics despite questionable medical necessity and allowed his patients to get early refills of controlled substances.

Investigators documented various prescriptions bearing Schuster’s signature while he was on trips to Russia, South Africa, Uruguay, Canada, New York, Chile, Argentina, and Israel.