The two Moselle professionals are suspected of having delivered this substitute for heroin in a too complacent way. Their correctional trial opens on Monday.
In two years, Dr Jacques Furlan prescribed 25,000 boxes of Subutex (buprenorphine), a heroin substitute. From this Monday before the criminal court of Sarreguemines, the general practitioner and former mayor of Hombourg-Haut will have to justify his prescriptions and prove that it is not an order of convenience.
“I am reproached for being greedy, lax and irresponsible,” Jacques Furlan explained to our colleagues from Release. I am told: “You prescribe too easily, you make a business out of it.” But I just want to support these people to increase their life expectancy and help them regain a little dignity. “
Justice also blames the general practitioner for his too many consultations. On February 27, 2012, he saw 84 patients, including around 20 for Subutex. Some patients told investigators they claimed to be drug addicts to be prescribed Subutex, says Release.
Black market
Alongside the doctor appear the pharmacist, Jean-Louis Baudouin, who works at the foot of his office and two men suspected of having fueled traffic in Germany, where the drug is much more difficult to obtain. In one of the defendants, the police found 600 buprenorphine tablets.
In addition, an investigation by the Regional Health Agency of Lorraine in the pharmacist’s dispensary found “dysfunctions”, such as inconsistencies in the dates of dispensing of drugs compared to those of the prescriptions.
A supported general practitioner
Heard at the bar, Dr. Furlan felt that he was being pursued by example and discourage prescribers. He also replied that he couldn’t tell if a patient was stopping their treatment.
Since his indictment in 2013, the general practitioner has been banned from practicing. All these requests to lift this ban were refused. One of these confreres from Moselle should come and testify on his behalf. His patients are preparing a petition of support.
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