Some patients rally behind embattled doc

MIDDLETOWN, Ind. (WISH) - Patients are coming to the defense of a Middletown doctor under investigation for over prescribing pain medication.

Monday was a busy day at the office for Dr. Phillip Foley. Patients arriving Monday were being asked to rally behind the doctor at a hearing later this week. That’s when the state’s medical licensing board will consider an emergency suspension of Foley’s medical license.

An investigation by the attorney general’s office shows Foley writing 96,000 prescriptions over a three-year period, sometimes as many as 400 per day. Several overdose deaths are being blamed on his practice. One man, who didn’t want to be identified, said his brother nearly died from an overdose.

"I went to a local pharmacist with his list of medicine and, as soon as I showed it to the pharmacy, he said, 'Oh, that’s a Foley cocktail.' I said, 'What’s a Foley cocktail?' (He said,) 'Well, first of all, you shouldn’t have this, this and this all going to the same person.'"

"Doc is a great, great doctor, he cares about his patients, he’s not just your doctor. We’re family to him, we’re all family,' said patient Delberta Amos of Anderson. "How many doctors will you find that has made house calls. You don’t find that in this day and age, but he does."

One by one, other patients came out of the practice to echo Amos' comments.

There’ve been some complaints about people coming from miles around to see the doctor. License plates on most cars in the parking lot Monday were from the immediate three-county area. One was as far away as Morgan County.

Dr. Foley declined an interview Monday, but a receptionist did transcribe a note from the doctor for 24-Hour News 8. It read, "This matter has gone on for 30 years. Nothing can be explained in a five minute TV interview."