West Philadelphia Doctor Charged In Patient's Drug Overdose Death, Fabricated Victim Had Lung Cancer, AG Shapiro Says
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A West Philadelphia doctor has been arrested and charged in the drug overdose death of one of his patients. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced charges Wednesday against Dr. Walter Wrenn in the March 2019 death of his patient.
Shapiro says Wrenn's patient filled prescriptions for morphine, oxycodone, alprazolam and temazepam on March 2, 2019, and died the next day as a result from an accidental overdose from cocaine, oxycodone and morphine.
The attorney general says the investigation revealed Wrenn fabricated that the patient had metastatic lung cancer in order for Keystone First to approve filling the medications. The patient's opioid prescriptions also allegedly far exceeded the recommended 90 milligrams per day.
"Dr. Wrenn had a duty to care for his patients, and he failed by recklessly prescribing highly addictive medications which continue to fuel overdose deaths across Pennsylvania," Shapiro said in a statement. "My office will continue to hold individuals accountable who knowingly put the lives of others at risk."
Wrenn has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, drug delivery resulting in death and other related charges.
