Source: Hackensack Daily Voice
Dr. Anthony Enrico, Jr., who has maintained practices in and around Paterson and Passaic, had his license temporarily suspended by the state Board of Medical Examiners while charges against him are pursued, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said.
The allegations stem from Enrico’s treatment of seven patients — five men and two women — between 2011 and 2016. Ranging from 33 to 61 years old, they “were all diagnosed with virtually the same conditions of the foot and lower leg,” Porrino said. Enrico “demonstrated gross negligence and endangered the welfare of his patients” by:
· Treating them with large quantities of addictive opiates – primarily oxycodone – for years, despite knowing there was a strong potential for the abuse or diversion of these drugs;
· Prescribing drugs to treat diagnoses where narcotics aren’t the accepted form of treatment;
· Failing to assess patients for any substance abuse problems, enter into a Controlled Dangerous Substances (“CDS”) Agreement with each of them, or assess the efficacy of the narcotics he prescribed;
· Waiting a year or longer – and only after his patient records were subpoenaed – to check the Prescription Monitoring Program (“PMP”) to determine if his patients were receiving opioid prescriptions from other doctors;
· Failing to refer patients for an evaluation by a pain management specialist;
· Failing to treat his patients’ underlying podiatric conditions;
· Practicing outside the scope of his license in podiatry by prescribing controlled dangerous drugs, such as Xanax and Ambien, to treat conditions unrelated to podiatry.
“We will not allow unscrupulous doctors to fuel New Jersey’s opioid crisis by indiscriminately prescribing painkillers and other narcotics that serve as gateways to addiction.”
Enrico got an adjournment of his medical examiner’s board hearing by agreeing to stop practicing. On April 5, state authorities “presented evidence that Enrico’s continued practice posed a clear and imminent danger to the public,” Porrino said. The Board agreed, stating, “No remedial measure less than the full temporary suspension of his podiatric license will suffice to protect the public interest.”
The case against Enrico “demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting the public from any doctor suspected of allowing dangerous, habit-forming drugs to flow unchecked into our communities,” Porrino said.
Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the state Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or (973) 504-6200 .