Florence County Doctor Heads to Court Over ‘Sex for Scripts’ Scandal
Doctor Pleads Guilty
Sweeping the state with shock, a prominent Lake City practicing doctor admitted his involvement in a drug-prescribing scheme in U.S. District Court on Monday. Dr. Carlos David Rodriguez Jr., 50, pleaded guilty to the charges related to distributing Oxycodone outside his medical practice in what authorities have described as a ‘sex for scripts’ scheme.
A Drive for Drug Trade
The alleged misconduct involved a patient to whom Dr. Rodriguez prescribed Oxycodone 15 times between May 2018 and January 2019. Detailed court documents indicate that the patient had initially visited Rodriguez in 2013-14 for treatment related to back pain and then returned for further treatment.
The Department of Justice highlighted disturbing details from the case. Upon the patient’s return, it was observed that Rodriguez neglected to ask fundamental medical questions. Ignoring indicators hinting at the patient’s potential illicit drug usage, the doctor failed to ask about her current medical history, her pain rating, or any controlled substances she might be taking.
Disturbing Allegations
Reports suggest that during the patient’s first appointment after returning, Rodriguez’s behavior was not consistent with any medical examination. As the case deepened, it was revealed that Rodriguez had provided the patient with his Snapchat username and started sending her explicit content.
Based on allegations, the patient believed this to be a ‘sex for scripts’ trade-off — if she engaged with Rodriguez sexually, he would write her prescription for Oxycodone.
Outlining the Evidence
As the investigation unfolded, it unearthed the patient having started substance abuse treatment during the summer of 2018. She was prescribed a medication incompatible with Oxycodone. After one pharmacy noted this conflict and declined to fill the prescription, Rodriguez reportedly sent it to another pharmacy instead.
In the fall of 2018, the patient filmed two disturbing encounters with Rodriguez. The graphic footage shows him entering the room and beginning to hug, kiss, and fondle her. In one video, the encounter escalated to a sexual act, after which Rodriguez wrote another Oxycodone prescription for the patient.
Possible Penalties
U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Dawson III accepted the guilty plea from Rodriguez. Although the sentencing date is yet to be announced, Rodriguez faces a stern penalty — a maximum of 20 years in prison, a hefty fine of up to $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release after his term. Adding to that, the disgraced doctor has also relinquished both his state and federal prescribing privileges.
The scandal has shaken the medical and local community, spotlighting the importance of trust and propriety within the medical field. The comprehensive investigation continues, promising to ensure justice for those victimized in the appalling ‘sex for scripts’ scheme.
