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Physician Faces Murder Charge for Prescribing OxyContin
August 3, 2001

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News Summary

A doctor in West Palm Beach, Fla., was charged with murder for improperly prescribing the painkiller OxyContin to a 21-year-old who died of a drug overdose, the Associated Press reported July 30.

In addition to the first-degree murder charges, Denis Deonarine, 56, was charged with racketeering and drug trafficking.

Deonarine prescribed OxyContin to Michael Labzda, who died of an overdose in February.

Because alcohol and other drugs were found in Labzda's body, Richard Lubin, Deonarine's lawyer, said the murder charges were inappropriate. "I'm very surprised the state chose to charge Dr. Deonarine with a drug overdose," he said. "I don't know what their thinking is."

If convicted of first-degree murder, Deonarine could face either the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

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