Federal agents raided the office of a Washington County doctor and banned him from prescribing certain drugs for at least a month because of complaints that he was issuing them without a medical reason.
Agents from the FBI, DEA and the state Attorney General's Office searched the Peters office of Oliver W. Herndon, 40, on Tuesday and served him with an order prohibiting him from writing prescriptions for controlled substances for at least the next 30 to 60 days, said Gary Davis, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA's district office in McKees Rocks. Herndon has not been charged criminally, Davis said.
"He can continue his practice. He can continue to prescribe medicine for antibiotics and other medication as long as the drug is not legally defined as a controlled substance, like Vicodin or oxycodone," Davis said.
Herndon declined to open the door at his Peters residence and didn't return a call left with his answering service. The Washington County District Attorney's Office declined comment. Court records show no criminal record for Herndon in Pennsylvania.
The DEA initiated the investigation after "a number of complaints" that Herndon prescribed narcotics without a medical reason, Davis said.
In message boards on websites where people rate doctors, several posters complained that area pharmacies are refusing to fill prescriptions written by Herndon. Employees at five pharmacies near Herndon's office declined comment.
Pat Epple, CEO of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, said she didn't have any knowledge of the case, but pharmacists can refuse to fill a prescription when they suspect the drug is for recreational use. That's particularly true when it comes to Schedule II drugs, which federal law defines as those with a high potential for abuse, she said.
"Cash raises eyebrows," she said. "Large quantities raise eyebrows. Schedule II raises eyebrows."
The raid at Herndon's Waterdam Plaza office occurred after months of information-gathering, Davis said. The DEA, FBI and the state Attorney General's Office continue to investigate, Davis said.
Herndon, who has been practicing medicine in the area for the past 11 years, is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and serves as medical director for four nursing homes. Herndon voluntarily resigned from the medical staff and faculty of UPMC McKeesport in October 2011, said hospital spokesman Jim Spindler.
Herndon moved his practice from West Mifflin to Peters in January. His office was closed yesterday.
Staff writer Brian Bowling contributed to this story.
