Pubdate: Fri, 16 Sep 2005
Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Watertown Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.wdt.net
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792
Author: James R. Donnelly, staff writer
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1481.a03.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/operation+sahara+wind

FATHER SAYS DRUG PROBE VERY UNFAIR

MADRID - A Madrid man says his son, Dr. James Latimer, is being
unfairly targeted by investigators looking into prescription drug
abuse in St. Lawrence County.

"This is McCarthyism. That's what it is. It is very unfair," Glenn
"Bud" Latimer said.

Dr. Latimer, who has been unavailable for comment, is one of three
doctors investigators believe over prescribed narcotics and other
prescription drugs. The allegations are based on a review of pharmacy
records by a federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent aided by an
investigator in the St. Lawrence County District Attorney's office.

The investigation led to the arrest in May of Dr. Gail E. DeHart,
Gouverneur, and her office manager, Joan A. Kingdon. Dr. DeHart was
charged with criminal sale of a prescription while Mrs. Kingdon was
charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Dr. DeHart was freed from jail after agreeing to stop seeing patients
and writing prescriptions while the charges are pending.

Another physician, Dr. Charles E. Locke, Gouverneur, agreed in June to
surrender his state medical license and his federal narcotics license
in order to avoid prosecution. He has since closed his practice and
moved out of the state.

Acting District Attorney Gary W. Miles has refused to confirm that Dr.
Latimer has been offered the same opportunity to avoid prosecution,
but Mr. Latimer said: "He is a target. No doubt about it."

"I have talked to him. He doesn't know what to do. I know he has got
lawyers and I expect him to follow their advice," Mr. Latimer said.

"My wife and I were at camp while all this happened. We got back and
people told us what was going on. It depicted him as a dealer in
drugs," Mr. Latimer said.

Jimmy, I am sure, has written a lot of drug prescriptions. He has
4,000 patients and those patients think he can walk on water," Mr.
Latimer said.

"The truth is, Jimmy doesn't smoke. He doesn't drink. He goes to
church on Sunday. What he does is work. He sees 40 patients a day. He
is at the hospital before daybreak," Mr. Latimer said.

Mr. Latimer also wrote a letter to the editor in which he calls on his
son's patients to rally behind him.

"Don't let Dr. Latimer's license to practice medicine be a feather in
a candidate's hat," Mr. Latimer wrote.

Mr. Miles, who is seeking election in November, refused to comment on
the statement.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin