Rowland Heights Doctor Charged With Murder After Patients Overdose On Prescription Drugs
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A Rowland Heights doctor has been charged with second-degree murder after three of her patients died from prescription drug overdoses.
Hsiu-Ying "Lisa" Tseng, 42, was arrested Thursday by state Medical Board investigators, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office officials. She is being held on $3 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.
Tseng was charged with murder in the drug overdose deaths of Vu Nguyen, 29, of Lake Forest, on March 2, 2009; Steven Ogle, 25, of Palm Desert, on April 9, 2009; and Joseph Rovero III, 21, a University of Arizona student from San Ramon, on Dec. 18, 2009. All three men were patients of Tseng, who prescribed a myriad of drugs for them.
Fatal overdoses from prescription drugs now outnumber traffic accident deaths in the United States, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley.
"Dr. Feelgoods who knowingly over-prescribe drugs for no medical reason other than someone asks for the drugs and pays the doctor a staggering amount of money will be dealt with severely," Cooley said in a statement.
Tseng is also facing a felony count of prescribing drugs using fraud and 20 felony counts of prescribing drugs without a legitimate purpose.
The investigation into Tseng involved undercover work and a search warrant that was executed at Tseng's clinic, Advanced Care AAA Medical. Tseng's husband, also a physician, continues to operate the clinic.
Tseng's license to prescribe drugs was revoked by the DEA and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California has moved to revoke her license.
Tseng faces a possible maximum state prison term of 45 years to life if convicted as charged.
