A former Mobile, Ala.-based orthopedic surgeon pleaded guilty to prescribing hydrocodone unlawfully, according to NBC 15.
Thomas Dempsey, MD, signed a plea agreement earlier this week in which he admitted to pre-signing prescription forms that his physician assistants later completed. Some of those prescriptions were for hydrocodone or oxycodone, according to the report.
The state of Alabama suspended his medical license in June, related to a separate issue, and he has since surrendered his license.
The report states that Dr. Dempsey faces 20 years in federal prison as a result of the unlawful prescriptions.