DOCTOR DESERVED A LONG SENTENCE

Our family read the front page story in The Daily Independent on the doctor
in Lewis County being sentenced to 20 years in prison for prescribing
controlled substances for illegitimate causes. The jury has made an
important statement here about doctors pushing dope in their medical
practices. We know good doctors are sometimes justified in prescribing
hydrocodone and Xanax, but this doctor was just giving it out like candy to
a long line of poor souls who were hooked on it.

Most importantly, we want to say that we appreciate Circuit Judge Lewis
Nicholls honoring the jury verdict and not giving the doctor probation. To
give probation would be just a slap on the wrist for what was done.

We understand that Judge Nicholls is doing a great deal to help the victims
of this and other bad doctors get off these drugs and help them lead
productive lives through his program called Drug Court. But there should be
no breaks given to medically trained doctors who are killing our youth with
these "legal drugs." That's why our hats go off to Judge Nicholls on his
decision not to grant probation. We need more judges like that.

Dewey Lemaster

Flatwoods