See attached link regarding doctor friedlander's arresst. http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/4/9/458592.html

http://www.cfnews13.com/Business/LocalBu...scriptions.html



http://www.theledger.com/article/20090407/NEWS/904075039?Title=Lakeland-Doctor-3-Others-Indicted

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/...S-SlbKD4Hw.cspx

And here we go. Doesn't look like the F2F method is going to work either. Jeesh......

These weren't related to any of the new F2F ROP's were they?

The article said that they did not do exams and the F2F doctors I have read about are doing in person exams.

Not sure
Who was using Dr. Friedlander?

Sorry, that I don't know.

Not F2F as we're thinking of. Below is more info.

http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=99057342
Doctor arrested in drug scheme
Natalie Neysa Alund
TAMPA, Apr 07, 2009 (The Bradenton Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

A doctor from Palmetto and three other people were arrested Monday on federal charges they illegally gave patients prescription drugs at clinics across Florida.

Dr. Jeffrey Friedlander, 50; his physician's assistant, Troy Wubbena, 43; emergency medical technician Carl Ehresman, 42, of St. Petersburg; and Sarah Ehresman, 43, of St. Petersburg allegedly gave known drug addicts prescriptions while they operated at Neurology & Pain Center clinics in Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando and Jacksonville.

Their arrests came after the unsealing of a March 26 grand jury indictment.

Starting in 2005, the four defendants illegally conspired to distribute and dispense oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone and Aprazolam, according to the 14-page indictment filed in U.S. District Court's Middle District of Florida. They also are charged with 12 counts of distributing and dispensing controlled substances without a valid medical purpose and outside the course of professional practice.

Friedlander, of Palmetto, was certified to practice in internal medicine, pain management, neurology, and vascular and interventional radiology, according to the indictment. Wubbena, of Tampa, is a physician's assistant who reportedly practiced under Friedlander's supervision.

Carl Ehresman and his wife, Sarah, are from St. Petersburg. He was an emergency medical technician and radiologic basic machine operator at the clinics, and she worked as an office manager at the clinics, said Steve Cole, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa.

"The defendants worked together traveling to a different clinic each day of the week," Cole said. "Mondays were Tampa days, etc. I believe the Friday clinic was (Jacksonville)."

The indictment states the defendants dispensed drugs without adequate verification of the patient's identity or medical complaint; without adequate and reliable patient medical history and without performance of a complete or adequate mental or physical examination.

It also says the four gave out drugs without establishing a treatment plan and without maintaining accurate and complete medical records.

As part of the conspiracy, the defendants distributed the drugs to patients knowing the patients were addicted to them or were requesting additional quantities of the drugs to share with others, the indictment continues. They also allegedly gave patients pre-signed blank prescription forms and allowed them to fill in their controlled substance of choice and dosage amount.

Cole said authorities are not releasing how many patients were involved in the conspiracy.

Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of the charges, Cole said.

This case was investigated by agencies including the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Inspector General, the drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Division of Fraud.

In connection with the arrest and indictment of the defendants in this case, patient files from the various locations of the Neurology & Pain Center clinics are in the custody of the agencies involved.

To view the indictment, go to Bradenton.com/news/local/crime-andcourts.

Well that's nice. It would be much nicer if the ROP's that are going to do face to face, that they have an ability to check out the doctors they contract with more thoroughly, as this kind of thing will kill that before it's begun.

Yourehealthsource was using Dr. Friedlander. They went to F2F the middle of last month. The doctor was visiting several different cities in FL to conduct the F2F visit.

You really Should Not believe everything that you Read in the News!! We already know that from how the Media Twist's Info about Tele Medicine and the Likes!! Just a suggestion.

Last week I emailed Ehealth since I used them at some point and they told me they had the DEA in and discussed the F2F after the 15th. I was told the DEA said they looked like they were doing every thing right and to proceed. Well now that was a big lie.
Now to read they had to have known this was coming since this was from an unsealed indictment from around March 23rd.
I read a bunch of the treads this morning about the South Florida pain clinics and this place fits. They would only take cash if you did a F2F. They said feel free to submit it to your insurance when you get home.
I really thought this one was a good one since this Dr. had so many offices and wasn't just opening shop for a F2F. I didn't know how it's run in South Florida until I read all the threads this morning. They were just buildings I guess and not offices. I'm assuming now but I'm very annoyed I believed in this place. I almost set up an appointment with them in Florida but couldn't get the money together.
K

He was with Ehealthsource.com. They did F2F in 5 different areas in Fla. I was actually thinking about going to this place for a F2F because he is a neurologist.
Oh well, another one bites the dust!
I wonder what will happen with F2F in the future.
So much meth & coke in Fla, I would hope the feds would spend their time more productively. I guess to them, this is easier. They do suck!

If the story is half true, it was not a real F2F operation. Idiot doctor if true.

I was told Mdhotline used this doctor regularly for OCS's and also for their new F2F service.

did a little reading about this Doc.. check out this..


The following ratings and comments have not been substantiated by RateMDs.com.

Date Comments
9/15/08 1 1 1 1 couldn't look me in the eye as he talked to me. His eyes fluttered as if he were on some medication. His thoughts weren't cohesive. Billed insurance for tests he did not run. Follow up visit...to get lab results ..he didn't remember me, why I'd come to see him, or even refer to my chart. When I asked a question, he told me to get the """" out of his office. No referral....just a dropped patient. It took me forever to get a copy of the lab reports, but it was imperative that I get them....
Insurance: Tricare
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

4/24/08 1 1 1 1 The staff is VERY unprofessional. The office is obviously operating on a low to no budget. No sink in the patients rooms. Profanity...gum smacking...unethical conversation, to name a few!
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

4/12/08 3 3 1 1 I was treated by this guy in a chiropractors office! Was a very wierd setup to say the least.
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

3/14/08 1 3 1 1 I AM A STAGE 4 "NON-HODGEKINS LYMPHOMA (INDOLENT FORM)PATIENT"... I HAVE AN ONCOLOGIST FROM MOFFIT, A PRIMARY DOCTOR, AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON,AND WAS SUGGESTED TO GET A PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR ONGOING/UNDERLYING CANCER CONDITIONS... I EXPLAINED TO HIS RECEPTIONIST, HIS ADMINISTRATOR, AND THEN DOCTOR FRIEDLANDER THAT I WAS 1 OF 10,000 PEOPLE TO GET WHAT I HAVE AT AGE 44.. I AM NOW 47 AND WHEN I EXPLAINED TO EACH OF THEM MY " FIGHT FOR LIFE ", ** DR. JEFFERY FRIEDLANDER ** RESPONDED TO ME BY SAYING I WANT NO PART IN PARTICIPATING IN YOUR TREATMENT AT ALL !!! (I MUST ASK EVERYONE.. AREN'T MOST DOCTOR'S SUPPOSE TO HELP TREAT THEN DISCARD TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS ??? I WAS GIVEN 3-5 YEARS TO LIVE, NOTHING WRONG WITH TRYING TO LIVE AND GET PROPER TREATMENT IS THERE ?? YAHOO BLOGS AND MY3CENTS.COM " I AM A HUMANA PATIENT AS HE IS PROVIDER FOR HUMANA. I ASKED WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR CHILD BEING REFUSED TREATMENT AND DR.FRIEDLANDER REPLIED"DISCUSSION OVER" JCENA@TAMPABAY.RR.COM
Insurance: Humana
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

3/4/08 2 4 1 1
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

3/3/08 5 5 5 5 Hes the Best of the Best and he keeps up with all the latest Medical and meds .We have never had any complaints to say about him never in 6 yrs. He tells you the truth all the time each time.He is a GREAT DR> Barbara Nicholas Of Lakeland Fla
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

10/24/06 5 1 1 I do not understand why this man is still practicing medicine. I had a similar experience to those already written. He changed his recommendations often (seemed according to his mood that day). He insisted that I take a medicine that made me feel completely disabled. He seemed to get personally offended when I told him that I wasn't comfortable taking the meds and refused to offer any other alternatives. To boot, he told me that he trys all the meds on himself! Don't go there!
Insurance: United Healthcare
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

8/7/06 2 1 1 Absolutely not professional. The worse treatment and behavior ever witnessed in any profession let alone medical. He changed from one recommendation to another each week, and if you dared to ask why the change, as I did, He said that he did not have to ****ing explain himself to me. The rest was even more explicit and which he screamed from the top of his lungs before storming out of the room. I wondered what the heck just happened for him to go off and remained in the room for him or someone else to return, for some kind of explaination. After speaking with another staff member he briefly returned as if he had been expecting to see someone else in the room, not me again and after looking up from his chart and seeing me he snapped once more, this time screamin...I don't have time for this ****, and refuse to see or offer any other information concerning what happened and his behavior. He should never be practicing medicine, I question his sanity and think he needs professional.
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

7/9/06 3 1 2 Made innocent comment on recommendation of primary care doctor. This doctor shouted at me , stormed ourt of exam room and REFUSED further treatment. Anger control, inflated ego-bad mix. Glad to be rid of him!
Insurance: Tricare
Please login on the left to respond to this rating.

3/21/06 1 1 1 Dr. refuses to see people!!!!!!

WOW, that's about all I can say.

Ditto on WOW!

Is this the future of F2F?

If I go see a Dr. I want him/her to be a professional and not just a scam artist.

Most of my phone consults have been by "real" doctors with real comments, concerns, etc.

I worried about that a lot before I had my F2F with Dr. Garcia. I spoke to someone else that had gone before I made my decision to go, and made sure an actual examination/discussion took place and that she felt it was legit.

A couple of the F2F companies use a doctor in the next state, (Alabama) and I seriously considered going to him at first. Then I found out he sits in an office by himself, no staff, nurse, etc, and is not even set up for examinations. The patient walks in and the doctor asks what you want, then writes the script. He will not be practicing to long like that. There are local people here in my county that have heard of this doctor, so he does not just do it for those he has set up through online services.


One of the main problems that comes out of those that do work in a shady manner is the same problem that existed with the standard ROP model. The ones who cut corners, are pill mills, or ignore patient care and regulations will bring down the ones who do carefully screen those they prescribe to.

I had a F2F with Dr Friedlander and staff in February. I had a wonderful positive experience and very thorough physical and neurological assessment. I have been using Dr Friedlander for more than 2 years and have felt well cared for. I wanted to post this to show the other side of this situation. I hope this comes to court in a timely manner with a positive outcome.
Mimilou

I really wonder what the deal is with this guy then? Mimilou and one other person from the above blog had a good experience, then the rest of the folks from that blog had more than horrible experiences. Makes you really wonder. I don't think I'd go near the guy personally.

My brother lives in the Orlando area, went to see this Dr and got up and left 5mins into exam. He felt like the guy was not all together in the head I asked if he though he might be "High" , but he said more like he was just confused.

Just my 2 cents, or my Bro;s anyway

Cheers,

Dogdog woof

I have had the misfortune of seeing 3 MD's, locally who have had a "Dr Jeckyl=Mr.Hyde" (sp?) type personality, in the extreme.
This was over the course of 30 years.

One case was solved when the Dr. was arrested for failing to file a Federal tax return, 2 years in a row on an income of $250,000+ (this was in the 1970's).
He locked himself in his house and threatened suicide, when the police came.
At trial, it came out that he was addicted to benzos and amphetamines, etc.
The judge was not impressed and gave him 2 years in Federal prision. I heard he was allowed to practice medicene in prison.
Truth is, I still think he was a skilled and decent man, who just fell victim to his ability to get unlimited meds and perhaps used them to deal with the stresses and demands of his large family practice.

No one is immune to that temptation to take "just a little more". Tolerance is a tough thing to fight and I have fought it successfully for 14 years, but I could fail tomorrow, as I am only human.

The second MD. was my shrink for 12+ years, who suddenly went raving mad and ordered me out of his office, after I reported a bad reaction to a new drug he had prescibed.
His behaviour shocked me, as I had come to regard him as a friend. I knew he had a giant "God Complex", but believe there were ethical issues involved. It's too complicated to go into. He is "Unforgiven", but how I will get justice remains to be seen.

The third was an elderly and possibly senile Ortho type.
He briefly listened to me and then ordered test that seemed aimed more at making money than diagnosing my knee.
I respectfully ask what a certain test was for and he went nuts and told me to get out and not come back.
By this time, I had enough of arrogance and grabbed my records out of his hands and called him everthing but the Son of God !
He looked funny and backed up, which probably saved his life. I don't recall being in such a rage since my teenage years and believe that if he had said one more word, I would have thrown down my records and gone for his throat.
It's amazing I did not have a second heart attack at that time. I was also surprized that I was still capable of that kind of anger and behaviour.

For most of my life, I avoided Doctors like the plague.
I had respect for them, but feared them, due to a lot of painfull experainces, as a child.

Due to several physical health problems hitting me at once, I can no longer avoid them.
Today, I fear them, more than ever, because of so much I have learned about screwups in my case and the cases of many others.
We tend to put MD's up on a pedistal and many of them have come to expect that kind of worship.
They are just people, who put their pants on one leg at a time, like the rest of us.
Peer Review, etc are a joke, in my opinion and as many as one in ten or fifteen MD's in America are incompetent, mentally ill, drug addicted or only in it to maximize profits and should have their licence revoked.

Having the letters, MD. after your name mean little to me now, and you would feel the same if you had the misfortune of meeting some of the Quacks that I have.(Dentist also)
If they want my respect, they must earn it !

If this post sounds bitter, I would like to end it by saying that 90% of the Doctors and Nurses I have seen are the finest human beings I have ever met and work hard under almost impossible conditions imposed on them by the [blanked] up US healthcare industry.
"Industry" being the key word here.
"Profit per Procedure"

(This post is not a responce to any one person and only my views and experiences.)

Dr. F still is open in a couple of locations in FL. He is still alowed to prescribe narcotics except for the ones that are listed in the indictment. F2F exams are only a very small part of his business. From my experience the office was always professional. They are actively trying to fight the allegations against them.

I have personally seen Dr. Troy and Dr. F. now for my pain mgt. and TMJ issues for months. They were always professional with me and extremely caring. I was never "pushed" on meds to try, or did he prescribe meds that were not warranted for my condition. I sure hope that he is not charged with this mess. I am very upset, as he was the doctor that changed my life. I have had multiple surgeries and after the last one, I have had horrible pain ever since. My surgeon actually referred me to him b/c he treat TMJ patients. He put me on nerve pain meds b/c the surgeon damaged my nerves. He put me on longer acting meds b/c the pain never goes away. I was required to provide extensive blood work and several MRI's before any meds were given. I was also required to be seen every month. After trying several medications we had finally found the right dose and mix of meds that made me feel so normal again.

I was feeling so much better than I had in years. I enrolled in school and started to work again. I felt so much better and they were so caring and understanding of everything I ever needed. I am extremely upset finding out this news, because I was scheduled to see him this week and will be out of all medications. I was told that stopping the meds can cause seizures and I could die. I am now trying to find a new doc that can help me. I can't even get my records from them b/c they were seized by the FEDS. I don't know if anyone can recommend a pain doc in north florida (Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahasee, or even Georgia) but if you can help me out I would greatly appreciate it. I am scared of what will happen to me after I run out of meds. I am so stressed out about experiencing the type of pain that I used to have. It's the worst.

I know that some of his patients may have been drug seekers, but I have a book of records that show that I am a legit pain patient. I loved the results of the meds and I was able to take care of myself and my family again. Why are those of us who are real pain patients punished? Not fair. I have tried to contact several pain docs and they all said "We don't treat pain above the neck". What?? So, if anyone can help me find a new place to go asap that would be so great. Thank you so much for listening. I hope someone can find it in their heart to help out a fellow chronic pain patient. Feel free to PM me as well. Thanks again. I hope you all find a new doc as well that have lost Dr. F.

Can anyone give me the names of any doctors who have ever been acquited after being indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple felony drug charges? Please give the full names of the doctors as I would like to research them.

in the few posts you have you have certainly expressed an intimate knowledge of the personal business of the people involved in the incident.

you can find one of their divorce documents online, as well as other avialbale documents, but you cant find out who the other people involved were? thats strange.

you are either law enforcement and playing coy or someone else looking to stir the pot on these people.

I think you may have misread APAININTAMPA's post - or else I am. The way I read it, this poster is asking about other doctors (not connected to the Dr. F case) who people may know of that have been arrested on similar charges and then acquitted once it went to trial. Could be that APAININTAMPA is working on Dr. F's case and wants to research them in order help with DR. F's defense.

its clear you have an agenda that is not in line with what this website is about, and that is a place where people can become educated in some form about their medical condition and the treatment(s) available, as well as a place to seek support for their condition.

--- gene, i do see what you mean. but, if you look at that persons posts you will clearly see they post very personal info about the people involved in that case in a way that is only negative. they have gone above and beyond to post things that make them look like bad people in their personal lives, asides from the professional things they are currently going through.
by evidence of their few posts, their objective is to further smear them, not help in any way whatsoever. i urge you to look at their 12 posts and make the decision for yourself.