Pubdate: Fri, 01 Feb 2002 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Website: http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/ Address: 100 Midland Avenue, Lexington, Ky. 40508 Contact: 2002 Lexington Herald-Leader Fax: 606-255-7236 AN EXAMPLE FOR 'PILL MILL' DOCTORS News articles about the conviction on Wednesday of a Harlan physician for prescribing OxyContin and other painkillers by the truckload should be posted in medical facilities everywhere. Any doctor, patient or pharmacist who has an itch to commit fraud is on notice that federal prosecutors will go after those who aid in the abuse of prescription drugs. According to testimony at his trial, Dr. Ali Sawaf had turned his office into a "pill mill," writing painkiller prescriptions for patients after cursory examinations. No doubt many of those pills were later sold on the black market to people who were addicted or who became hooked on narcotics. An untold number of doses might be traced to the deaths of dozens of people. Whether Sawaf prescribed those deadly doses or not, he contributed to and profited from a culture of drug abuse that has destroyed lives and undermined communities, especially in Eastern Kentucky. Now he faces a possible sentence of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine. Sawaf's arrest might not have come about without the assistance of pharmacists who grew suspicious of his prescription activities and alerted authorities. Pharmacists' role in acting as a check on dangerous doctors can't be undervalued. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth