Legal news for medical malpractice attorneys in Kansas. Schneider Medical Center indicted for contributing to overdose deaths and fraud.

Medical malpractice attorneys alert- A federal indictment named a Kansas doctor for drug overdoses and fraud.

Wichita, KS—A Kansas doctor and his wife, who worked for him as a nurse, have been implicated by a new federal indictment which accuses them of directly contributing to 21 deaths and 68 fatal overdoses due to illegal prescription writing and a money making scheme through their Haysville clinic. The federal indictment was issued on Thursday, March 4, 2010, which names Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife Linda, as reported by MSNBC.

Dr. Schneider, Linda, and unnamed others are being accused of scheming to illegally dispense prescription drugs, defrauding health insurance programs and patients, in addition to money laundering. The indictment alleges that medical records were missing or incomplete, and patients were issued prescription refills even after they had previously overdosed on the same prescription medication. In addition, inexperienced physicians assistants also were not properly supervised, Dr. Schneider left signed blank prescription pads lying around, which Linda has been accused of forging Stephen’s signature on various scripts. In December 2007, Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were arrested for illegally prescribing drugs, money laundering, and overbilling medical services. From 2002 to 2007 the U.S. government alleges that the patients of the Schneider Medical Clinic who had died of drug overdoses made up 18 percent of all deaths due to overdosing in Sedgwick County and other surrounding areas.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for medical malpractice lawyers in Kansas.