Tennessee doctor pleads guilty to overprescribing opioids

COLUMBIA, Tenn. – A Tennessee doctor who lost five patients to fatal overdoses in 10 months now faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

News outlets report 64-year-old Dr. Darrel Rinehart pleaded guilty Monday to prescribing drugs without medical necessity.

U.S. Attorney Don Cochran says Rinehart also admitted to unreasonably distributing opioids and other substances to multiple patients. Health records indicate at least five of Rinehart’s patients fatally overdosed either partially or wholly because of drugs he prescribed in 2014 and 2015. He later moved to Indiana.

Rinehart was one of 32 Tennessee medical professionals charged with crimes related to over-prescribing opioids. He was indicted in March on 19 counts of distribution. His sentencing is scheduled for July 30.