Mental Health

Atlanta Psychiatrist Arrested After 36 Of His Patients Died In Prescription Drugs Racket

By R. Siva Kumar | Update Date: Jan 18, 2016 03:49 PM EST

A psychiatrist in Atlanta, Dr. Narendra Nagareddy, was arrested on Thursday after 36 of his patients died due to his wrong prescription of overdosed drugs.

Those who died were all linked to his diagnosis as they became his patients from years ago. He has been treating them for a long time.

The charges against Dr Nagareddy include prescribing pain medicines, which are not within his psychiatric profession, for "a legitimate purpose", according to Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson. Charges against him could include infringing Georgia's Controlled Substance Act, according to WSBTV Atlanta

Although he had a valid license to practice psychiatry in America and Georgia, he did not have any pending lawsuits or actions against him.

The examination by the District Attorney's office was taken up after finding that 12 of the autopsy reports of his dead patients were due to an over-dose of prescription drugs.

The doctor would first put most patients on some opiates or benzodiazepine, and then juggle various drug combinations in order to keep them on those drugs for years.

Critics slammed him as a "pill mill." On the website, RateMDs.com, a client reported on 2010: "This Dr. is nothing but a drug pusher. Instead of helping my disorder, he kept me wasted on seven different drugs. If you want drugs, this is your guy. If you want help - keep looking or you will end up in rehab," according to The Examiner.

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