In a significant victory for New Jersey’s fight against opiate abuse, the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners has revoked the license of Dr. Paul M. DiLorenzo, an Oakhurst physician who prescribed excessive quantities of oxycodone, a potentially addictive opiate, to a large number of individuals without medical justification.
In addition, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has permanently revoked DiLorenzo’s authority to prescribe controlled dangerous substances (CDS) in New Jersey – meaning that DiLorenzo is permanently prohibited from prescribing oxycodone or other controlled medications even if he is ever successful in having his medical license reinstated.
Further investigation by the Division of Consumer Affairs’ Enforcement Bureau revealed that he prescribed the drugs without medical justification.
DiLorenzo pleaded guilty in September 2014, and was sentenced on March 6, 2015, on federal tax and structuring charges.
His federal sentence of 46 months’ incarceration to be followed by three years’ probation was enhanced because of the Judge’s finding that his proceeds were derived from illegal activity, specifically the prescribing of highly addictive narcotics without due care or with limited or no patient examinations.
DiLorenzo has not, however, been criminally prosecuted for his indiscriminate prescribing of oxycodone. The State’s actions mean that DiLorenzo will not be able to resume practicing and prescribing CDS upon the completion of his federal sentence.
In deciding to revoke DiLorenzo’s license, the Board of Medical Examiners found that DiLorenzo’s actions constituted indiscriminate prescribing of CDS, and that he engaged in dishonesty or fraud; gross negligence, malpractice, or incompetence; professional misconduct; aiding and abetting an unlicensed person to use his prescription pad; and failure to demonstrate good moral character.
Specifically, the Board found that DiLorenzo prescribed excessive quantities of oxycodone, the majority of which were for 240 pills of 30 milligrams each, on a regular basis to many individuals without maintaining adequate medical records for those individuals. He prescribed CDS in quantities and dosages that were beyond the standard of care and/or without medical justification. He also failed to properly monitor his patients for abuse or addiction.
DiLorenzo consented to the license revocation by signing a Consent Order with the Board of Medical Examiners. Under the terms of the Order, DiLorenzo’s license to practice medicine is revoked and he must pay the State $150,000 in civil penalties plus $50,000 for the State’s investigative and legal costs.
DiLorenzo will be ineligible to apply for a new medical license for at least five years after he is released from incarceration and has satisfied the Federal judge’s order that he pay $303,293 restitution to the IRS and $1 million in illegally derived proceeds.