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Kissimmee doctor accused of overprescribing medication to undercover agent

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health is calling a Kissimmee doctor an “immediate and serious danger to patients.”

The FDH filed an emergency restriction of Dr. Harlod Lawler’s license after he was accused of overprescribing medication to an undercover agent for months.

The investigation began when someone complained to Osceola County deputies about Lawler and his clinic, the Innovative Medical Center.

Department of Health documents said Lawler reviewed the MRI of an undercover agent, who claimed to have back pain.

Even though Lawler said the MRI “doesn't look bad at all,” documents show that he prescribed the agent four different high-powered controlled substances, totaling 234 tablets a month.

The agent continued to visit the doctor monthly until May, and one of the appointments lasted only one minute.

Health officials said Lawler continued to prescribe four medications on each visit.
Lawler has two other clinics in the state.
Channel 9 learned that there was an 11.6 percent increase in the number of people receiving controlled substances in the state between 2014 and 2015.         
The number of unique prescribers in the state is up 2.7 percent in that same time frame.
Health officials said it's impossible to pinpoint what's behind the increases.
The Attorney General's Office will not confirm or deny it's investigating the case.

Cox Media Group

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