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Doctor Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter In Opioid Death

Record numbers of people are becoming addicted to, and overdosing on, both prescription opioids and heroin. (Pixabay)
Record numbers of people are becoming addicted to, and overdosing on, both prescription opioids and heroin. (Pixabay)

A Massachusetts doctor has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a patient who overdosed on opioids he prescribed.

Attorney General Maura Healey's office said Tuesday that 76-year-old Richard Miron was also charged with illegally prescribing opioids and defrauding the state's Medicaid program.

Healey's office says it's the first time the state has charged a doctor with manslaughter for an opioid overdose death.

Prosecutors say a patient of Miron's died in 2016 from acute intoxication due to the combined effects of several drugs he prescribed, including fentanyl and morphine. Prosecutors also say Miron continued to prescribe large doses of opioids to her even though he knew she previously overdosed on opioids he prescribed.

A call to Miron's Dracut office went unanswered. It wasn't clear if he has an attorney.

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