Dr. Howell enters not-guilty plea, says he's now retired

Friday, October 21, 2011

Charged with 15 felonies, Roachdale physician Dr. Ray D. Howell made his initial appearance in Putnam Circuit Court Wednesday, pleading not guilty to all charges.

Dr. Howell, who was arrested Tuesday afternoon at his Heritage Lake home, is facing 12 counts of unlawful dispensation of a controlled substance and three counts of furnishing false fraudulent information.

Dr. Howell advised Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matthew L. Headley that he will hire his own legal counsel.

Judge Headley set bond at $20,000, allowing the 57-year-old Howell to post 10 percent to affect his release from the Putnam County Jail Wednesday.

The judge also set a pretrial conference in the case for 10 a.m. Dec. 8.

Howell's arrest culminated a more than two-year investigation by local, state and federal authorities into his alleged reckless dispensing of narcotics and pain medication.

The investigation also yielded several incidents of alleged sexual encounters with a number of female patients to whom he had reportedly prescribed excessive doses of controlled substances.

Howell, the owner and sole practitioner of Tri-County Family Medical Clinic in Roachdale for more than 20 years, ran a classified advertisement earlier this week in the Banner Graphic, indicating he has retired, effective Sept. 30. He also has reportedly posted a sign to that effect at his office.

Nine female patients were interviewed by investigators, and six reported unwanted sexual advances or actual sexual acts allegedly occurring with Dr. Howell as a result of their visits to his office at 407 E. Forest Home Ave.

At least three of those counts allege that the excessive amounts of controlled substances the doctor prescribed were ostensibly written "to facilitate sexual encounters."

A number of patients told authorities that because of the excessive doses of medication, they felt "like a walking zombie" or they realized they were "not coherent for a while."

A former nurse, who was terminated after she stole prescription pads from Howell's office, said she continued to receive treatment and medication from the doctor. She informed investigators that "attractive females" could get as many as 500 pills per prescription from the doctor.

An investigation into possible criminal activity by the doctor began in 2009 after pharmacists from Connersville, Danville and Crawfordsville expressed concern that Dr. Howell was writing prescriptions for "unusually large quantities of controlled substances," the probable cause affidavit filed in Putnam Circuit Court notes.

One red flag for pharmacists was that Howell had a number of patients traveling great distances to obtain prescriptions -- some from as far away as Richmond, Hagerstown and Connersville, all more than 100 miles from Roachdale.

The Indianapolis District Office of the U.S. Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led the lengthy investigation in cooperation with Indiana State Police and the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office. At one point early in the investigation a female uncover State Police officer posed as a patient and obtained controlled substances for obesity issues although she was not the lease bit overweight, officials noted.

The drugs allegedly over-prescribed or unnecessarily prescribed by Howell as outlined in the 12 felony counts include Oxycodone, Methodone, Adipex, Clonazepam, Lortab, Vicodin, Alprazolam, Xanax, Percocet and Hydrocodone.

Although no specific charges have been filed involving the deaths of any patients treated by Dr. Howell, the probable cause affidavit details four occasions in which patients died within days of receiving controlled substances from the doctor.

Three of those involved Fayette County patients, while the fourth was a Franklin County patient who died of an overdose of hydro-codone.

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  • Retired or not he still needs to be held responsible for his previous actions!!

    -- Posted by cougarchick on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 12:23 AM
  • He was a nice doctor. He went to great lengths to help me with my health problems. Didn't even prescribe me narcotics...just helped me out completely in figuring out why I was in pain.

    -- Posted by Apollo13 on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 1:41 AM
  • Apollo...That says a lot for your looks.

    "...informed investigators that "attractive females" could get as many as 500 pills per prescription from the doctor."

    -- Posted by Keyboard_hero on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 3:39 AM
  • Sounds to me like he knew who to "prey" upon.

    -- Posted by kbmom on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 5:35 AM
  • SO HE THINKS BECAUSE HE'S RETIRED. HE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH ALL THE WRONGS IN THE PAST. HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN SHALL CAST THE FIRST STONE...RIGHT DR. HOWELL? HE IS NOT ONLY A CRIMINAL, BUT A HYPOCRITE.......

    -- Posted by Michele1953 on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 8:54 AM
  • retired or not he still needs to be responsable for his action, just wondering how many more women this predator preyed upon that didnt come forward? makes you wonder doesnt it?

    -- Posted by lleonard47 on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 10:38 AM
  • I always find it curious when I see these doctors who are handing out high-level prescription drugs to people who don't really need them (like giving obesity drugs to a federal officer who - logically - isn't obese in any way). But people with chronic pain who request to have better options for pain control, or who can bring in dozens of articles discussing the merits of certain medications for their condition, are pointed at by doctors who yell, "MEDICATION-SEEKING PATIENT!!" and refuse to prescribe even low-level narcotics or muscle relaxants. It's been proven again and again that chronic pain sufferers don't get the "high" from narcotics that others do. Thanks to jerks like this doctor, I have to nearly beg my doctor for the lowest level of pain medication to get by, and she monitors when I have the prescriptions filled, as if I'm an addict -- even though my prescription for tranquilizers (30 day supply) lasts for about 10 MONTHS before it's refilled. Obviously, I'm out to get high and sell drugs on the street......

    -- Posted by KittyBelle on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 10:38 AM
  • I just hope the initial hearing isn't any sign of how the trial will go his bond was nothing for the lives he has destroyed! If it were a regular citizen not a doctor facing these charges we would be held at a much higher bond or no bond, what about the person who overdosed? the women who were taken advantage of or the long lasting effects on the people he has hurt?

    -- Posted by honesty101 on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 11:28 AM
  • I find it very sad that the general public is so uneducated on the reality of this situation. People are getting their "truths" from unreliable and irresponsible media. Juicy fiction sells a story much quicker than facts...and that BG readers and news watchers is the truth. Is it possible that the words of addicts should be questioned? No...addicts don't lie? Or do they? They are sure making this man's story a "best seller".

    -- Posted by CMC on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 12:03 PM
  • He has Alzheimers? That is the story his staff was giving earlier this week as to why he was 'retiring' so suddenly. Seems to me if that's going to be his defense for all the time he's been doing this, he'd be dead or totally infirm and committed to long term memory care center by now? At least 7 years ago he was known as a pill doc, which came as quite a shock to me upon returning to the area,given he let me suffer through multiple cases of throat infections another doctor would have done surgery to resolve, telling my parents and myself that prayer was my best solution.

    My prayers are with the younger, still innocent members of his family. The adults, I can not be convinced weren't aware of his actions and chose not to act to protect their fellow man. I am saddened by that more than anything other than the lives he destroyed.

    -- Posted by miraclemom3 on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 12:24 PM
  • The Dr. retired a month ago. It had nothing to do with the charges against him, as those VERY unexpectedly occurred just this week. Dementia can take over a decade to kill it's victims and it can and will most likely take much longer if the victim is younger. The effects of the disease are often suffered for years before a diagnosis is given and treatment is received. These are simply more facts, I cannot say if the disability played a part in choices this man did or didn't make. Just stating some more facts b/c I've grown tired of the fiction.

    -- Posted by CMC on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 12:54 PM
  • CMC...

    It doesn't mean that the feds are taking the word of "addicts". If you look at the increase of controlled substances he provided over the time frame..it is uncalled for. Even if the sexual charges are dropped, he still has to answer to the charges or prescribing too many pills. The increase of scripts is real and factual. They had doctors review the charts and determine that the patients did not need that many pills. If he knew he had Alzheimers or Dementia then he should have quit practicing when he found out because he should have known that he could not give the same "quality" of care to his patients.

    KittyBelle..

    Please show me the studies where it has been proven time and time again that chronic pain sufferers don't get the same high off of pain medications as others do. Where are your facts. Because I see plenty of "chronic" "pain" (I put those words in quotes because it is all subjective) sufferers that are addicted (they are on the lowest level of pain medications) and need to be sent to pain management specialists.

    As for his family, I do pray for them and hope that they come through this ok. I'm also hoping that he gets the help that he needs.

    -- Posted by girlmd on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 1:36 PM
  • The Dr's diagnosis was given just before his retirement...and I agree that his family should have stepped up sooner if indeed they saw effects of the disease in his behaviors. However, that is not for the public to cast judgement upon. This Dr was also a pain management specialist, his certification was only received a few years ago which I believe would partially explain the increase of controlled substances he provided over the time frame. A Dr has a limited number of prescriptions they can write until they become a specialist in this area, once that happens I'm sure they gain more "pain patients", and their number of patients continues to increase over time...especially if there aren't many pain managment specialists in the area. I don't know if the Dr prescribed too many pills to a few patients or if he had a growing number of patients...it's just simply sad that so many facts were left out and so much fiction was published.

    -- Posted by CMC on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 2:02 PM
  • CMC, I used to work with people with Alzheimer's. I'm very familiar with the disease. I'm not a medical professional, so I won't say whether or not he has dementia.

    This man preyed on his victims.

    I'm a clean addict. I trusted him. He prescribed medications that he knew could wreck my clean time.

    That man is able to sit and read his Bible in the comfort of his own home because he paid $2000. Between the tinnitus and the pain that wracks my body (that are a direct result of his over prescribing medications to me), I can't sit down and enjoy God's Word anymore and probably never will.

    I do pray that God's will is done, but I have no pity on Ray Howell.

    -- Posted by victimnomore on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 2:04 PM
  • Victimnomore...I'm sorry for your pain and continuous struggle. I don't know your story or anything about how this man may have wronged you.

    I simply logged on because I was disgusted by the massive amounts of untruth reported in this story. There are facts reported about the investigation but those are miniscule in comparison to the the talk of "allegedly this and that" coming from the mouths of addicts. Oh and don't forget the short piece on the thieving nurse who stole script pads from him...hmmmmmm, all reliable sources.

    -- Posted by CMC on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 2:27 PM
  • CMC,

    If this is the case (him being able to write more prescriptions) then why would the DEA get involved. If his new certificate afforded him this, I don't know why the DEA would waste their time with a small town doctor instead of going after a bigger doctor. Also what justifies the Adipex to the undercover cop who was not overweight and explained the reason as to why she wanted it (i believe for energy). there is more to pain management then writing pain medication. That is why they call it pain management (they help patients manage pain in other ways besides medication but can include medication). No one is judging him if he truly has Dementia or Alzheimers, I believe that people are going to become upset if that is used as an excuse or defense. As I stated in my earlier post I hope that he gets the help that he needs.

    -- Posted by girlmd on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 2:34 PM
  • girlmd...I can't respond to what I don't know. I don't know why he gave diet pills to that woman, and I don't know exactly why the DEA got involved, although the article credits their involvement to the pharmacists who expressed concern in 2009. I completely agree to your comments on what pain management is...again, just speaking on things I do know.

    -- Posted by CMC on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 3:06 PM
  • "no one is judging him if he truly has Dementia or Alzheimers." Um, actually most people on this board are extremely judgemental. And how will you or we know if he "truly" has Dementia or Alzheimers??? Maybe he should have put his diagnosis on a billboard just in case he ever got arrested. That way no one would think he was just using it as an excuse. And I'm being ridiculous right now because who on earth would post on a billboard that they were recently diagnosed with something. Sorry we weren't all the first on the list to know if this is the case. Oh we can just let the media tell us whether or not he is diagnosed with something and whether or not he is just using it as an excuse. The media is ALWAYS reliable and NEVER slanted in one direction. The media is objective....wait, no that's not true. The media is run by people, who are imperfect. All of us are imperfect people. The media is not objective. This story has been sensationalized. Everyone just loves to see someone fall hard. It's so exciting because it's not us. Who cares that he is a person and has a family right??? What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? You know what, I wasn't there when the "uncover" (and that is how it is spelled in the above story...which is so reliable that they didn't even take the freakin' time to proof read the "valid" article) state police officer went to the doctor's office. And maybe she was a little hefty...they didn't exactly state her height and weight in the artice....just sayin'. We just assume that if the article is stating it, it is obviously fact. I cannot prove his innocence or guilt. That's not my job. But let's not crucify someone when we may or may not even have all of the accurate facts, like CMC said. That's all I have to say. So hate on my comment if you want. I'm not coming back to read your responses anyway. I know....real mature :)

    -- Posted by Who_needs_a_stone? on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 3:26 PM
  • Who_needs_a_stone

    I'm not judging him..no one is perfect. If you read my earlier posts you would know that I hope that he gets the help he needs and that I am praying that his family gets through this. I agree with you that people on here are extremely judgemental. I simply stated that if he has this illness, he's not being judged for having it but for what he alledgedly did. If someone is judging him for having the illness then they are just ignorant. I stated that if it is used as a defense or excuse that people will be upset. I was not crucifying him, I was replying to CMC's comments about him being allowed to prescribe that many controlled substances. I'm sorry if anyone thought that I was crucifying him..that was not my intent.

    -- Posted by girlmd on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 4:15 PM
  • I don't feel that I am judging him either. I just stated a small part of my experiences with him. We went to the same church. I know his family. Yes, they need to be remembered in our prayers.

    If he were a drug dealer on a street corner in downtown Indy, would these same people feel that he was being judged unfairly?

    -- Posted by victimnomore on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 5:09 PM
  • Just so everyone is clear on the Adipex that was prescribed to the undercover female officer, Adipex is basically legalized speed. That where wieght loss comes onto play. It gives you the energy to want to get up and exercise plus it suppresses your appetite. When the body has met the requirements necessary from the food you are consuming, it makes you feel nauseated. Therefore, you don't consume the entire meal and go back for more. So to a person who doesn't have any weight issues, it acts as speed. For the person with weight issues, it aids in weight loss. A well known side effect is nervousness and shaking uncontrollably due to the high content of chemical in the drug.

    -- Posted by growupandgetreal on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 5:39 PM
  • growupandgetreal, thank you. I didn't know what it was.

    -- Posted by victimnomore on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 5:46 PM
  • The newspaper article is very superficial. After all it's a local small town paper. The truth will come out at trial if he goes to court. I don't think the judge will every let this go to trial as he has alzheimer disease. Unfortunately, he has already been tried in the court of public opinion.

    -- Posted by rmilburn on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 6:10 PM
  • "The Hippocratic Oath" I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:

    To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.

    I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

    I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

    But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

    I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

    In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

    All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

    If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.

    -- Posted by Casey7780 on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 6:50 PM
  • if the pharmacies would no longer fill his scripts for drugs that were highly addictive doesnt that tell you hes is up to no good. and the sexual attacks which that is exactly what they were, 2000 is all he had to pay for his bond. that in its self is criminal. so he has alzheimers, that is no excuse for what he did. i have given long term care with alzheimers and they sure didnt show this kind of behavior. own up you did the crime now do the time. they have medical wards in prison. isnt that what you did, giving your patients life time sentence.

    -- Posted by pukee on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 7:38 PM
  • Ok, I'd like to clarify something. The drug addicts that Dr. Howell was "hooking up" with pills and whatnot that are extremely honest and entirely responsible and dependable were the ones that were victimized and he is the monster in charge of this. It's not their responsibility to have any self-control. After all, they ARE addicts. It's not like any of them can really be held accountable for their actions, right? Why would we do that? They are the VICTIMS people. C'mon! I can almost see Dr. Howell now in his laboratory with things smoking and lights flickering. He probably had some 18th century pipe organ that he would play in between sessions where he would trade drugs for sex. I can see him now with a mask and a cape. Swinging from the rafters and laughing a crazy laugh. Then he would do doctor stuff. But he'd rather be evil. I'm pretty sure I saw him punch a kitten one time. Right in the face. A KITTEN! PUNCHED! THE FACE! Oh wait, allegedly. And he's not really charged with that. But you need to know it. Just like the sex stuff he's not charged with. But drug addicts said he did it. And other honest people. And probably some ugly people too that didn't get free drugs. You need to know it bad. Really bad. You totally need to know that. Your friends do too. Can you post it on facebook for me? Tweet it? Tell the kid at the checkout stand at Walmart? Get him to tweet it? Can we put it on buses? We really need to get the word out. He's not charged with it and it's not something he'll be tried for but its INTEGRAL to this well written piece of garbage that's entirely objective. I actually have 4 PHD's in housemaking, fire prevention, dungeons and dragons and globetrotting. So when I say something, it's actually not legal for you to ever doubt it. Ever. At all. You will be tried for it. And you'll probably be referred to as a sex addict as well. You won't be charged for it. But I'm pretty sure that when you doubted me, you also tried to have sex with me. Not that it's pertinent but it's altogether imperative to get the word out. I'll be starting a website where people can buy t-shirts that have pictures of Dr. Howell with the words ALLEGED SEX OFFENDER. Oh wait. No I'm not. Why not? THATS RIDICULOUS! If he had taken advantage of someone sexually, he'd have been charged with it. I wanted to just dispel the mindless drivel on here at first but it's getting deep. Real deep. Back to those drug addict victims. Next time somebody is arrested for raping someone, we should probably feel bad for the rapist. He/She is a sex addict and just couldn't control themself. If that other person hadn't been dressed the way they were it wouldn't have brought out that uncontrollable nature and caused them to act the way they did. I'm just blown away by this. I don't have all the facts. I'm not with the DEA. Obviously you don't have to have all the facts to spew personal opinions on here. Land of the free and all. It's amazing that there are so many people who have decided to dedicate themselves to making sure Dr. Howell is dragged through the mud. Dementia? Oh that's SOOO convenient. What a crock. Wait, what? It's for real? Well it's still a crock. Are the effects of dementia convenient for Dr. Howell? His wife? His family? Not so much. Are you for real? Are you a robot? I'm gonna shut up now. I'm just furious with you people. Oh and just in case you were wondering victimnomore..."This man preyed on his victims. " Yeah, thats judging him. I'm judging you...idiot.

    -- Posted by BG IS THE GREATEST EVER!!! on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 7:53 PM
  • For those who swear he's done nothing wrong, it's all being blown out of proportion by the gossip mill, etc, explain this:

    Patient files for several of Howell's patients were forwarded to a medical expert, who rendered the following summary in July:

    "Unequivocally, Dr. Howell negligently prescribed excessive, egregious and inappropriate doses of narcotics that resulted in the deaths of several of his patients and the addictions of several others."

    -- Posted by miraclemom3 on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 9:32 PM
  • Oh and just in case you were wondering victimnomore..."This man preyed on his victims. " Yeah, thats judging him. I'm judging you...idiot.

    -- Posted by BG IS THE GREATEST EVER!!! on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 7:53 PM

    And to think that I almost thought you had posted something worth my time.

    -- Posted by victimnomore on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 9:35 PM
  • Its a good thing Dr. Nick Riviera AND Dr. Julius Hibbert spoke on the subject just last month stating the following:

    "Upon further review of Dr. Ray Howell's patients, we have arrived at the conclusion that previous scrutiny has been over zealous and grossly taken out of context. While some may argue that his methods are unorthodox, his results stand for themselves on a firm, medically sound foundation."

    I really like the "Medical Expert". Are you sure you didn't talk to somebody about an episode of Grey's Anatomy and make it up? Maybe that guy just stayed at a Holiday Inn Express and he SEEMED like a dr. Maybe somebody just stole a white jacket and doled out unsound medical advice. You do know that Doogie Howser was NOT a real doctor, right? You could say "Medical Expert" and then quote something this guy said the same way I could say "Freelance Palentologist" and quote something Pauly Shore said in "Encino Man".

    As for other subjects, I recently spoke to Biff Crandler who hangs out a the local exotic bird store and is regard as the resident "cool guy". When asked to comment on the people who said anything contrary to my posting he merely replied with "Lame". So if you'd like to argue either of these points you are entirely lame.

    By the way...love that my post was ALMOST worth your time. Had I left out the last line of my previous post, victimnomore would be shouting amen. Instead I'm the waste of time since I at least own up to judging.

    -- Posted by BG IS THE GREATEST EVER!!! on Fri, Oct 21, 2011, at 11:32 PM
  • Does he think that no one will bust small town doc cause he is so important or has so much clout. He has conned us all now let the long arm of the law have him. He is a menace to society and if this is all true put him away for a long time.We do not need Doctors harming us he has for gotten that. My family has been cared for by him and some of his mistakes has put one of them 6ft under for not caring enough. Thank God that we moved to abetter DR group in Danville that even told us that if we didn't come we to could be harmed by him. It is embarassing to know that he is a laughing stock of Doctors and has lost hospital rights in area hospitals. Let Dr FEELGOOD ride The CRAZYTRAIN to jail none stop.

    -- Posted by exac1e on Sat, Oct 22, 2011, at 12:50 AM
  • LOL! 'BG IS THE GREATEST EVER' Sailed right o'er their 'eads...

    -- Posted by chp on Sat, Oct 22, 2011, at 1:32 PM
  • I feel we all have a right to our own opinion. He was my Dr. for many years,This was changed about 2 years ago when I went to him and he said that i was a hypochondriac. Unfortunate for him i quit going to him immediately, as I only went to the Dr. no more than 2 times a year if that. But worse yet, He was tending to my mother at the same time and over looked her medicine that she took daily and the receptionist had to remind him that he needed to write her a script for this (not a narcotic it was blood pressure med.,) this is the day we both started going to a wonderful Dr. in Danville, I told my mother that day when leaving he has lost it, I seen it my last visit when i went as he was getting side tracked but 8 mos, later it was alot worse than I had ever seen it. So is it fact that he has dementia? From what i seen it probably is. I am not a Dr. But i have been in the medical field for a great length of time, and yes I believed it possibly could be. Am I going to Judge him? Not!!!!!! I will leave this to the Higher Power....I feel for Him and his Family...Lets face it we all have skeletons in our closets., So do we have the right to judge::: no we don't....Am I going to defend him? No I am not, Because it is not my place to defend or condemn him. First if you were not there how do you know the truth from fiction? Does the Banner make mistakes Yes , we are all human and there are always times mistakes are made. The same as each of us make. Life is to short to get in on gossip so i will decline on getting involved other than stating facts that I do know.

    -- Posted by firegal1991 on Sat, Oct 22, 2011, at 4:55 PM
  • girlmd,

    Well said.

    -- Posted by taxpayer21 on Sun, Oct 23, 2011, at 3:32 PM
  • Dr. Howell my prayers will be with u!And guess what I won't be sending you a bill for praying for you! Like you did myself in 2003.I wasn't aware of you charging me for praying with me and talking to me about out savior.Until I swapped doctors and was allowed to look at my chart.Ieven give you a chance to be my doctor even after you misdianoised me!

    -- Posted by mamawfolck on Sun, Oct 23, 2011, at 8:40 PM
  • ok I was reading all the comments,I may not have agreed with Mr. Howells doctoring. But I can't say all the sexual abuse is true either.Because if it was going on WHY didn't the women REPORT it then intend of now??? You think maybe they are trying to keep their self out of jail? We are talking about drug users here. They will say anything to save their own butt. I will be praying for justise to be done. Just because he loses his rite to practice. Does mean he should get off scott free,

    -- Posted by mamawfolck on Sun, Oct 23, 2011, at 9:16 PM
  • Dr. Howell treated my daughter as an infant and as a addict who was addicted to prescription drugs.

    His office was notified twice not to see or treat her, but that fell on deaf ears.

    It was my daughter's choice to see him, but as a professional he knew her history and continued to prescribe her pain killers.

    to mamawfolck --- sexual abuse or not, Howell was an inexpensive source of pain medication, thus the women continued to go there for a cheap fix.

    I, too, hope justice is served and all involved check into rehab and learn to live a clean an sober life.

    -- Posted by everyonediesfamousinasmalltown on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 6:12 PM
  • What many seem to forget is the investigation showed (1) PHARMACISTS noticed too many prescriptions were being filled for narcotics, and (2) Patients were driving in excess of 100 miles for a prescription!

    Who does that?? Addicts.

    No one is "jumping to conclusions or judging" the good doctor. We're simply commenting on the CHARGES against him. Doesn't look good for him, either way.

    SOMEONE should have turned him in long ago - if he didn't realize it (due to illness) and if they KNEW.

    If convicted, he's nothing more than a glorified drug dealer.

    -- Posted by Emmes on Thu, Oct 27, 2011, at 12:14 PM
  • Matthew 9:13

    13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

    No one is perfect, but I know he has a Lord filled heart.

    -- Posted by 1happymom on Thu, Oct 27, 2011, at 9:32 PM
  • SOME patients may have driven over 100 miles to see him. Some patients only had to walk across the street. The newspaper articles don't say that all, or even the majority of his patients came from that far away.

    -- Posted by victimnomore on Fri, Oct 28, 2011, at 11:16 AM
  • I have chronic pain due to 2 failed back surgeries. I'm trying a series of if joint injections. What is the difference between Norco (generic) and Vicodine (genertic). In otherwords, which offers the most pain relief. I tried Oxydone and that didn't help my pain, just made me sleep (along with taking Cymbalta, which I also had to stop using). Although I am concerned that FindRxOnline.com indicates that these medicines have side effects.

    -- Posted by svillagedoctor on Tue, Nov 15, 2011, at 10:15 AM
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