Doc accused of prescribing drugs that killed 10 patients

MIDDLETOWN, Ind. (WISH) - A Central Indiana doctor is being accused of prescribing more narcotics than any other doctor in Indiana and state investigators say people have died from overdoses as a result.

Now the state wants to strip Dr. Phillip Foley of his medical license. One he’s held since 1961. They say he’d hand out hundreds of prescriptions everyday without any medical checkups.

24-Hour News 8 brought the Attorney General’s petition against Dr. Foley to his office at Middletown Medical Corp.

After waiting a few minutes and never actually seeing Dr. Foley, an assistant returned saying the doctor hadn’t received his copy of the petition and would not talk to the media.

But others are speaking out. A woman, who didn’t want to be seen on camera, has had big questions about what has gone on at Dr. Foley’s office, based upon activity outside.

“I’ve seen probably 70 cars in and out or more sometimes,” said the woman.

The Indiana Attorney General argues that from January 1, 2005 to May 31, 2008, he wrote 96,131 prescriptions and assuming he would’ve worked a non-stop, 10 hour workday, he would’ve spent 4 minutes per patient and written 1.4 prescriptions every minute.

They add that 40% of the prescriptions were narcotics like Hydrocodone and Morphine. Depressants accounted for 27% and the remaining prescriptions were muscle relaxants and stimulants.

Several people 24-Hour News 8 spoke with said Dr. Foley’s office is pretty well known among patients who are seeking prescriptions. Records show Dr. Foley has been practicing medicine for more than 40 years.

24-Hour News 8 spoke with a man, who also didn’t want to be seen on camera, but questions activity at Dr. Foley’s office.

“If someone were to go through and look at maybe the license plates on the cars, this county begins with 33. I think you’d see a lot of people from other counties in the parking lot which gives them a reason to be coming out of their county and out of their city to see a doctor. That would make me think that something would be fishy,” said the unidentified man.

By the way, while waiting inside to speak with Dr. Foley, 24-Hour News 8's Mike Corbin noticed a message on the front counter. It said “Dr. Foley said if you owe a balance it must be paid today or NO RX unless he says otherwise.”

Corbin also heard a couple of patients talking about prescriptions they needed. But none of the patients wanted to talk to the media.