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Simpson County Physician Convicted of Illegal Prescribing Habits

A former Simpson County physician has been convicted in federal court of illegally prescribing prescription pain killers and anti-anxiety medicine. 

Dr. Roy Reynolds was found guilty on Monday following a nine-day trial in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green.  He was convicted on 15 counts of illegally distributing controlled substances. 

Reynolds was the treating physician to one patient who overdosed and died.  According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky, the patient had a documented history of illicit drug use and psychiatric issues.  However, prosecutors argued that Reynolds placed the patient on a regimen of chronic opiate therapy, failed to hold the man accountable by conducting urine screens or pill counts, and didn't attempt to wean the patient off of opiates.

Reynolds prescribed pain killers to four other patients without a legitimate medical purpose and who were not considered good candidates for opioids.  The patients had histories of mental illness, doctor-shopping, and other risk factors for abuse and addiction. 

"Kentucky families rely on our doctors to 'do no harm,' however, in this case, a Western Kentucky doctor was no more than a drug dealer in a white coat," stated U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman in a news release.

According to evidence presented at trial, the illegal activity took place from 2010-2013.  That's when prosecutors said Reynolds prescribed more Oxycodone than any other primary prescriber in Simpson County and ranked among the top five percent of prescribers in the state. 

The 69-year-old Reynolds lost his medical license in 2013.  He was taken into federal custody following the guilty verdict and will be sentenced on July 31.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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