Memphis Psychiatrist Richard Farmer

Legal Reader
Pharmacist Who Stole Opioids Must Surrender License
By Sara E. Teller
July 2, 2020

— Excerpt

… In February of this year, Memphis psychiatrist, 83-year-old licensed psychiatrist Richard Farmer, was also found guilty of unlawfully distributing opioids. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) found Farmer guilty of “three counts of distribution of controlled substances outside of the scope of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.”

Farmer was charged in April 2019 after reportedly giving opioids to three sisters who he had “ongoing sexual contact” with while prescribing the opioids. Farmer is accused of prescribing more than 1,200 pills to the woman in less than three years and doing so despite knowing they were misusing the medication.

State and federal regulators have vowed to continue holding anyone helping to fuel the opioid crisis responsible, including pharmacists and physicians…

“Doctors who take advantage of patients suffering from addiction are no different than street corner drug dealers,” said Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Louisville Division Office. “I am proud of the dedicated men and women of DEA who worked tirelessly to bring Dr. Farmer to justice.