JULY 05, 2017
AP

A Long Island doctor has been indicted on charges of illegal distribution of oxycodone causing the deaths of two patients. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn say 51–year–old Dr. Michael Belfiore, of Merrick, is to be arraigned on the charges at Central Islip federal court on Friday.

The two patients, 33–year–old John Ubaghs and 43–year–old Edward Martin, died of overdoses in 2013.

Prosecutors say Belfiore issued the prescriptions without legitimate medical need.

Belfiore’s attorney, Thomas Liotti, told Newsday that his client did nothing wrong. He says case law has ruled that a doctor is not responsible for what a patient does with medication after leaving the physician’s office.

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