Doctor charged with murder over opioid scripts: US

Dr Thomas Keller is accused of killing four patients with prescribing that 'far exceeded' guidelines
Dr Thomas Keller
Dr Thomas Keller. Photo: Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

A doctor in California has been charged with murdering four patients in relation to his overprescribing of opioids. 

Dr Thomas Keller, 72, a Santa Rosa pain specialist, allegedly prescribed narcotics and opioids, including oxycodone and morphine, at levels well outside accepted medical practice.

He faces multiple charges in relation to his prescribing practices for nine patients, including second-degree murder in four deaths and felony elderly abuse for a fifth patient who also died.

According to a statement from California’s Attorney-General Xavier Becerra, the complaint alleged Dr Keller “drastically increased” his patients’ opioid prescriptions between October 2011 and July 2017.