Prosecutors Appeal "Sentence Too Light" After Doctor Prescribed Fentanyl Patches Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison

The prosecution has appealed, arguing that the sentences handed down in the first trial to doctors who illegally prescribed about 5,000 fentanyl patches?opioid painkillers known as "zombie drugs"?were excessively lenient.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 18th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Trial Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Im Seon-hwa) announced that it has appealed the first trial verdict sentencing family medicine doctor Shin Mo (59) and orthopedic surgeon Lim Mo (42) to two years in prison and a fine of 50 million won, respectively, for habitually illegally prescribing fentanyl patches and psychotropic sleep-inducing drugs.

Shin prescribed 4,826 patches over 304 occasions, and Lim prescribed 686 patches over 56 occasions to Kim Mo (30). Investigations revealed that they prescribed fentanyl patches without medical examination, solely based on Kim’s claims of having lumbar disc pain. The amount of fentanyl patches prescribed by Shin to Kim amounts to a 40-year supply based on the recommended annual prescription limit (120 patches).

Shin is the first doctor to be arrested and indicted for illegally prescribing medical narcotics. The prosecution sought five years in prison for Shin and one year for Lim, but the sentences handed down were lighter. The prosecution pointed out, "These doctors were well aware of patients’ addiction to medical narcotics but illegally prescribed opioid painkillers and sleep-inducing drugs without therapeutic purposes." They added, "Considering the significant harm and public condemnation caused by doctors’ drug crimes, and the severe breach of professional ethics and responsibility, a strict punishment is necessary, which is why we appealed."

The prosecution also appealed the sentence of three years in prison given to Kim, who received a total of 7,655 fentanyl patches from Shin, Lim, and others, citing inappropriate sentencing.