M.D. IS FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER

FORT PIERCE - (AP) -- A doctor was convicted Monday of manslaughter
after jurors found she recklessly doled out painkillers, causing at
least one death.

Asuncion Luyao, 64, whose license to practice medicine has been
suspended since her 2002 arrest, also was convicted on five
trafficking charges and one count of racketeering.

Prosecutors argued that Luyao thought she could make more money as a
drug dealer than a physician, alleging she ran a "pill mill" from
her office, prescribing large doses of powerful, addictive narcotics
with few, if any, examinations.

Authorities alleged the practice led to six patient
deaths.

Among other things, she was charged with six counts of trafficking in
oxycodone and six counts of manslaughter.

Luyao's attorneys claim she was a caring and compassionate physician
and was duped by some patients who lied to get prescriptions. They
argued that two of the patients died of natural causes and that
suicide could not be ruled out in others.

Sentencing is set for April 21.