Fuhai Li, MD, 51, a neurologist in Milford, PA, was indicted July 20, 2016 on 24 charges of unlawfully distributing controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose, money laundering and tax evasion. He was taken into custody that same day.
Now let’s look at these charges and get an idea of the farcical reasons behind them.
First, 15 counts were for alleged unlawful distribution of controlled substance from 2011 to 2015. The indictment alleges that Dr. Li provided prescriptions for excessive quantities of oxycodone and other narcotics to individuals he knew were not seeking the drugs for a legitimate medical purpose. One charge caused the death of a patient and one involved distribution to a pregnant woman.
In order to confiscate the doctor’s assets, the indictment included a charge of opening and maintaining premises for the purpose of distributing controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without legitimate medical purpose. If found guilty of that, the government can then forfeit his office buildings.
In the process of indictment, the fact that Dr. Li accepted cash as payment for his services was used negatively. Also, that he had patients come to him from outside Pennsylvania. Neither of these statements would reflect negatively on any other businessman, so why are they using them to indict a physician?
The indictment continued with “Despite being notified by multiple area pharmacies that they would no longer fill prescriptions written by him, Li continued to prescribe excessive amounts of controlled substances. The alarms and “red flags” noticed and responded to by multiple local pharmacies were ignored by Li.”
Now I’m sure that, with the current climate of opiaphobia, that Dr. Li reviewed any information given to him by the pharmacists. But my guess is that these pharmacies weren’t working based on knowledge of the patient, but because of restrictions by their corporation. Having only one patient death proves to me that Dr. Li’s prescribing practices were not excessive. But again, no defense is allowed in the Grand Jury. So the prosecution can say whatever they want to make the doctor look bad.
According to the indictment, the activities that were allegedly not in the usual course of medical practice included:
- inadequate verification of the patient’s medical complaint;
- cursory or no medical examinations;
- inadequate patient medical history and no follow-up verification;
- failing to consider other treatment options;
- lack of, or inadequate, diagnostic testing;
- increasing the patients’ dosages over time unnecessarily;
- prescribing inappropriate combinations of drugs to patients.
These have become the standard complaints against doctors with the charge of being “outside the course of usual medical practice”. And yet pain management clinics that do steroid injections that could have a lot more negative impact on patients spend maybe 5 minutes with the patient and also don’t do the above. The key here is that controlled substances give the government the window of attack using the Controlled Substance Act illegally through a broad interpretation which the Justice Department has supported through the chain of courts.
The US Attorneys are really getting brazen in their charges. The indictment actually says that Li did examinations, but they covered all bases saying they were “either not done, were unnecessary or were inconsistent with the nature of the diagnosis subsequently offered.” He also did order tests, but the government covered their charges by saying they led to no change in therapy and “merely created the appearance pf legitimacy.”
So in other words, doctors can expect to be charged with practicing outside standard practice whether they examine the patient or not. As for tests, generally when you take over the care of a chronic pain patient, tests are ordered purely to legitimize the therapy. That is appropriate medical care.
Dr. Li is also charged with three counts of tax evasion for the years 2011 through 2013 based on finding cash in his home during the execution of federal search warrants in January 2015. According to the indictment Li kept two sets of books for his medical practice. Li is also charged with money laundering in connection with a $385,572 wire transfer mortgage payment on a residence and a $158,699 certified check for the purchase of a property.
People, open your eyes. Right here is the crux of the attack. The whole reason doctors are being attacked today is just this—MONEY!!! You see, if found guilty, Li is subject to forfeiture to the United States government, of any and all proceeds derived from unlawful activity including money and properties.
The usual propaganda hype was spread to the media by Akeia Conner, Internal Revenue Service, Special Agent in Charge, who was reported to say “When a physician knowingly abandons his oath and distributes controlled substances for financial gain instead of legitimate medical purpose, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation will provide the financial expertise in tracking and accounting for the proceeds of this unlawful activity.”
Special agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Philadelphia Field Division Gary Tuggle jumps on the sensationalism by saying “physicians have an ethical obligation to uphold standards of medical practice,” Then he goes on to rouse people’s prejudice by saying “In 2015, 3,383 people died across Pennsylvania from drug overdoses; 53 percent of those overdose deaths were the result of opioids such as oxycodone. The DEA will remain vigilant in pursuing investigations against physicians that violate their positions of trust in our communities.”
Every government agency wants a piece of the credit and the pie. But the real people who are violating their positions of trust are the US Attorneys, DEA agents and other government officials involved in this illegal attack on doctors all over the country.
Dr. Li is facing a maximum penalty for distribution charges of life imprisonment, for the money laundering charges of 20 years per count. And for tax evasion, 5 years per count.
Addendums
On June 5, 2018, Dr. Li was convicted. See the post about that here. I stand by my assessment of the case against him–completely illegal and unwarranted.
Dr. Li was sentenced to 27 1/2 years in prison. His release date is set at 12/16/2041. Come on, people. We have to get the word out that these attacks are illegal and unnecessary as drugs do not cause addiction and the government is attacking us simply for money. Dr. Li should not spend his final years in prison to be released at almost age 80.
Anyone in communication with him, please tell him to work on forgiveness and when he is ready, join us in the effort to restore humanity to the nation.
Addendum from the author:
I have failed in my mission to end these attacks on doctors and pain patients. Through John Bevere’s book The Bait of Satan, I have figured out why—my lack of forgiveness to those who attacked me. As in Mark 11: 24-26:
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
And when you do not do the will of the Father, you are estranged from him and he will ignore you. So we all must forgive the agents who attacked us in order for things to be made right through any of our works.
Jesus said
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
But we cannot lay down our lives for God unless we know Him well enough to trust Him. We must have the assurance that He would never do anything to harm us. He always looks out for what He knows is in our best interest. As a nation, those of us suffering from these attacks must understand that we are serving as God’s messengers of love. We must forgive those who persecute us and love them instead, following God’s will for us. Then and only then will we see fruits from our labor.
So I hope that everyone who has suffered from what happened to the doctor can trust the Lord, forgive those who have hurt you, and help bring this country back to the God-fearing country that our forefathers founded. Then, and only then, can you be a part of the effort to stop these attacks. I look forward to that day.
Linda Cheek is a teacher and disenfranchised medical doctor, turned activist, author, and speaker. A victim of prosecutorial misconduct and outright law-breaking of the government agencies DEA, DHHS, and DOJ, she hopes to be a part of exonerating all doctors illegally attacked through the Controlled Substance Act. She holds the key to success, as she can offset the government propaganda that drugs cause addiction with the truth: The REAL Cause of Drug Abuse.
Get a free gift to learn how the government is breaking the law to attack your doctor: Click here to get my free gift
Wow. I have kidney disease and am also dealing with reccurant uterine tumours. I just moved to Washington state from louisiana about 8 months ago. I’ve been on a pretty constant dose of meds for 10 years. I cut myself down a couple of years ago but that’s not enough. My old pm doctor in Louisiana left becaise of the regs etc. I’ve been on oxycontin as well as lorazapem for over a decade. Now I’ve just been taken off of lorazapem. Today I walk in to the pm (saw no) and was told they’re also going to begin reducing all non cancer patients MME if it’s over 120. I’m at 250 I believe and haven’t had a problem in over 10 years. Never had a bad UA or anything like that. I was told it was because they “have to follow CDC guidelines” which I know is bull****. (And btw…if they do get us all to 120 or 90mme what do you think they’ll do after that…guess…10 to 1 they’ll try it again but then it will be “oh nowit has to be 50…”. I know many people who will likely not want to keep living g with intense pain if their meds are cut.
I wish these people had to deal with chronic pain and need these meds. They might sing a different tune. Keeping fingers crossed I can get another decent doctor.
My name is Michelle, I have been in unrelenting pain since 1987. I have been on just about every narcotic, I too have just lost my Dr due to this new push they have against drugs. My Dr said screw it the 1st of April and retired, I have never used street drugs in my life but it seems to be what society is pushing us chronic pain people to do.
I cannot truly say I will not commit suicide or use something to ease the pain but I am trying to survive being treated like a soccer ball in the medical community.
You know the terribly sad thing about this is that those of us who are dying and suffering are just too weak to even have our voices heard by society. If Obama had a family member in this much agony you know they would be treated like humans. If animals were being treated in this manner there would be a huge outpouring of compassion. What are we now like the Jews being secretly exterminated??????????????????
Hello Michelle, I am an advocate for patients’ rights with a group called Veterans and Americans United for Equality in Medical Care. We are collecting stories to go into an article to be published in a national pain journal. If we have permission to use your story, please let us know who your doctor was, what city, and whether you think he would be willing to confirm that he left the practice of medicine due to the new guidelines which are being interpreted as law. Also, we will need your full name, email address, and phone number. And by responding you do acknowledge that we have your permission to use your story. I am so sorry for the problems you are having. Please feel free to join our group for up to date news and to join our team in fighting to regain our rights as patients, human beings, and citizens of the United States. We wish you the best.
Can you send me your website address I also have a story to tell you ok my name is Craig Cornell from moosic pa I had to drive 50 miles one way to see a pm doctor 100 miles round trip then the Attorney generals office called me in and asked me if dr Li from Milford pa was giving Oxys and Oxycodone out like candy I said no they said why would you drive 100 miles round trip to see him when you have 5 within 12 miles from were you live I said you scared them all to death. And only want to give ibphroghen spelling is off I’ll tell you more later gotta go ty email is [email protected]
Dr Li was my neurologist. I also suffer from severe chronic pain due to an unsuccessful brain surgery. Dr Li only Recommended injections. Granted, I did not see him for pain management, I have another Doctor that I see. Dr Li always advised to make sure in general, make sure the medications you are taking are actually helping. If you think it’s not, try to eliminate it. The less you take the better. I can only speak for myself and my husband who also suffers from neurological issues, Dr Li didn’t over prescribe anything. He didn’t even prescribe us narcotics. He was always professional, and did a general exam each time we saw him. We were his patients since 2015.. Dr. Li did have his practice in another office in Milford. That lease ended and he just moved to a new location. There is nothing wrong with that. Many doctors or local businesses have done that. I would like to add that to my knowledge, he is the only Neurologist locally that is not part of Atlantic Health Care….which would be able to hire top lawyers as their network is quite large. This seems to be “pick on the little guy” here. How about finding out why there is an epidemic in our community? . Let’s get to the root of the cause. Addiction is also a disease. It is very common for those addicted to turn to heroin, which unfortunately appears quite available and cheaper.
You hit the nail on the head. They are going after independent doctors all over the country. Why? When all the doctors are owned by hospitals, which are in cahoots with the government, then the government will be in control of our deaths as well as our lives.
My husband and I would LOVE to be a part of this!! We are both pain management patients, for very different reasons. We see the same doc. One of our “long acting” scripts has been cut in half and the “break through” has been stopped. And I’ve had severe anxiety for years and that is being taken completely away! I was told I could have the opioids or the benzodiazapine, it was up to me to choose. What kind of shit is that?? I was taking Xanax for years and years before the pain issues started. And I was also told that I had to do EVERYTHING they suggested or get dropped. I had to do epidural steroid injections, physical therapy, acupuncture, see a surgeon (which already seen and was told he couldn’t do anything) and was told all of this world take about a year and during that year I could not be on any pain meds or Xanax. And if none of those things worked I would be considered for very low dose opioids. And this is from a pain management specialist. Oh, and I had to carry 2 doses of Suboxone with me at all times. I said to hell with all of that!! I don’t know what is going to happen to people like us, but it sure as hell isn’t going to be good. I would like to know how many legislators, congressman,cetc are on pain management!! You know there are a lot! I want to see them have their meds taken away and see how they handle withdraw!!
I have a survey showing 50% of 1800 people surveyed had considered suicide as a way to end their pain. The other statistics are startling. I’m leaving the survey running a few more days to see if I can get 2000, but watch for the results and use them for your advantage. Physician abandonment is about 43%.
I feel for you doctors. The truth of the matter is, the DEA was blamed for the Heroin Epidemic. Read the transcripts of the committee that prepared the CDC guidelines. Look at the Stacks the committee used. There were no studies available as to long-term use of opioids for chronic pain. The Committee was extremely concerned about the welfare of the chronic pain patients. The CDC put their guidelines on the “fast track” because Obama only gave them 1 year to develop a plan to combat Heroin. 2 of the committee members had direct, undisclosed conflicts, by having ties to pharmas. That being said, the lies spread by the government to the media, such as CNN’s Town Hall media, turned America against anyone who requires opiates. Patients are suffering. The DEA paid personal visits to all doctors and pharmacies mandating certain percentages of cutbacks. Hold on. If a doctor isn’t over-prescribing and is ordered to cut back, that doctor is cutting meds, not based the best interests of the patients, due to gvt regs. But the DEA now boasts a decrease in opioid prescribing and the politicians are proud that prescription writing is down. What they don’t tell the public is that doctors are abandoning patients without referrals. One man was sent home without referral without meds and was detoxing at home when he aspirated on his own vomit and had a massive stroke. He died when taken off life support in a vegetative state. He leaves behind 2 daughters. In a nutshell, a legislator’s kid od’d and a war was wagered. Deaths due to heroin overdoses has continued to rise over the past 2 years. So, the govt can brag that prescription writing is down, but thousands of people are now without doctors, without meds, detoxing alone, declining in functioning, and committing suicide due to untreated pain. The government is out of touch with reality. Coroners can’t distinguish between heroin mixed with opiates from a rx from those bought on the street. Every death that involves heroin is counted towards the opiate prescribing. People are dying, losing the ability to work, declining in functioning, being betrayed by the very doctors that have prescribed painkillers for legit purposes; it just goes on and on. People no longer want to retire to Florida because no doctors will take a patient who requires opioids for any reason. We’re treated like addicts. Heroin addicts are treated like victims. Truth is, heroin addicts like their life just the way it is. They’ll lose their family and kids. Meanwhile, chronic pain patients can either live in bed, commit suicide, or buy street drugs. Hell, I guess if I was a DEA agent, I’d take the cartel’s money, lean on the doctors and pharmacies, say to hell with the chronic pain patient, bust as many doctors as they can for no good reason, taking even more pain management doctors away from the chronic pain patients, and tax the legit pain patients for what little opiates they are allowed. So far everyone’s pain meds has been cut by 1/2. As I predicted, deaths are starting now. I personally am going to promote people suing doctors for malpractice when they discharge patients solely due to the CDC guidelines and their limited prescription writing privileges. Come on. If you’ve treated a patient with serious conditions for a long period of time with strong pain meds, you know they’re going to detox. They should refer them somewhere. Further, if patients question a doctor about why they are being denied pain meds, they’re abandoned too. Doctors are telling patients to either take the epidural steroid injection or they will be discharged or the doctor will deny their meds. This, too is illegal. These doctors need to man up and practice medicine, not be puppets on a string. Of course, they don’t want to lose their license. So what is it … abandon the patient or get shut down. The DEA probably can’t go after the drug cartels because they’re being paid off. So, it’s nasty. The chronic pain patients are told we’re “unintended consequences” of the government’s war on drugs. I guess you, too, are “unintended consequences”. After all. The DEA was told to get the job done. They had to indict someone. And indictments are just that. A group of people who act as jurors. The U.S attorney puts forth his best prosecutory evidence. An idiot acting as your lawyer puts on a bullshit defense of presenting the medical records without the benefit of an exam, radiological review, diagnosis review, nothing other than what the government wants the grand jury to see. I guess we’ve got the doctors who are being indicted to meet the status quo, chronic pain patients who hopefully will die and get off the Medicare and Medicaid rolls, and the gutless doctors who sacrifice their own patients to ensure they don’t get shut down like the other doctors they see getting indicted. You gotta love the Obama admistration. They’ve done a bang up job on the heroin epidemic, haven’t they. After all, prescriptions, which is what leads all these kids to heroin, are down by 30%. What a bunch of shit. They must think we’re all idiots. Sadly enough, their bullshit propoganda have divided America and pitted the healthy Americans against the ill and injured. Good doctors can’t practice, but there aren’t enough doctors to meet demand. Depopulation agenda? I would have never believed it, but I’m starting to think it’s true. God bless you all.
I only wish to correct one misunderstanding in your very eloquent message. There is no defense allowed in a Grand Jury indictment. The defense isn’t even present. The US Attorney gives reasons to take the person to trial, and often those reasons are lies by government officials. The old adage is “A grand jury would indict a ham sandwich” is a true statement.
You know, I was a Case Administrator in the District Court for 4 years. While the Grand Jury was always so secretive, I always assumed, out of pure common sense, that they at least presented what evidence they KNEW would be brought in defense of the doctor. No wonder they’re able to get these indictments. Whether you ultimately win or lose in Court, I’m sure your career is ruined. That’s Bullshit that absolutely no defense is brought on the side of the doctors. I’m behind you guys 100%. Thank you for caring enough for LISTENING to patients and responding to their needs. The world needs more doctors like you now more than ever. We’re creating a national movement, led by a Ph.D., practicing doctor, teaching doctor, who will lead us through some of this. If you have anyone you would like to refer to the national movement, please let me know and I’ll direct you/them to our page. Unity is our only chance at this point. Maybe if we can make a dent there, it will help you in some fashion. My heart breaks for all of you. I normally don’t wish ill will on anyone, but I SOOO hope that some of these do-gooders, especially Andrew Kolody, wake up paralyzed on one side of their body like I did. Suffer, sucker, Suffer.