Boston Area Doctor and Nurse Indicted in Six Deaths

Needham doctor Dr. Joseph Zolot and his nurse practitioner have been indicted in the overdose deaths of six of his patients. The two were indicted on charges of conspiring to illegally distribute controlled substances, including methadone, oxycodone, and fentanyl; and six counts each of distribution of methadone that resulted in the deaths. The charges claim that the drugs were medically unnecessary and were distributed in order to make a profit.
According to the Boston Globe, “Law enforcement officials said it is one of the most significant recent cases of medical misconduct to reach a criminal court nationwide.”
The misuse of pain drugs has become a nationwide problem with some states vowing to crack down on those who distribute and profit from the powerful drugs.