Attorney - Treatment Has Helped Knox

ROANOKE PHYSICIAN NOW FIT TO STAND TRIAL

The Trial Of Dr. Cecil Byron Knox On Charges Of Overprescribing Drugs Is
Scheduled To Begin Sept. 8.

A Roanoke pain physician once too ill with cancer to stand trial on charges
of overprescribing OxyContin and other drugs has improved enough to face a
jury in September, his lawyer said Wednesday.

A January trial for Dr. Cecil Byron Knox was postponed because of his
health problems, and he had been unable to attend earlier pre-trial hearings.

But Knox was present for a hearing Wednesday in U.S. District Court in
Roanoke. Afterward, defense attorney Tony Anderson said the doctor has
responded well to treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is now in
remission.

Knox's trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 and last a month. The pain
specialist, who practiced at Southwest Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
in Southwest Roanoke, is accused of illegally distributing drugs, some of
which resulted in death or serious injury to some of his patients.

He and four former co-workers also face charges that include conspiracy,
mail fraud, health care fraud and obstruction of justice. Knox is also
accused of trading OxyContin prescriptions for marijuana.

Knox has been described by federal authorities as a major dispenser of
OxyContin, a prescription painkiller that is widely abused in parts of
Southwest Virginia. Defense lawyers counter that the prescriptions were
part of Knox's legitimate effort to help patients in pain.

Since his indictment in February 2002, Knox has been prohibited from
practicing medicine.

"It's been an incredible financial hardship on the Knox family" because his
health has prevented Knox from working while his medical and legal bills
have piled up, Anderson said.

At Monday's hearing, Chief Judge Samuel Wilson modified Knox's $200,000
bond, releasing some of the money that had been used to secure it, and
allowed some of his savings to be freed from a protective order obtained by
prosecutors to freeze the funds.

Knox needs the money for living expenses, Anderson said.