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Doctor charged with selling painkiller prescriptions
By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published January 12, 2006
PLANT CITY - A 73-year-old physician was arrested Wednesday on charges he sold hydrocodone prescriptions for cash.
Dr. Lionel Cavallini of 4202 Platt Road in Plant City was operating out of a 2004 Ford Shasta mobile home.
Tampa police on two occasions purchased $25 prescriptions for the controlled substance from Cavallini at the trailer in a mobile home park at 5810 U.S. 92 in unincorporated Hillsborough County, spokesman Joe Durkin said.
Cavallini, a neurologist, didn't give a physical exam or question the customer about medical history, even though the undercover officers made it clear they were seeking the drug just because they like the way it makes them feel, Durkin said.
Hydrocodone is a narcotic pain reliever that can be habit-forming.
"You don't see many instances of a doctor gone bad like this," Durkin said. "Obviously he's violated his oath as well as the law, and he's also violated the public trust that he holds in the community as a doctor."
Tampa police found him with help from the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Lakeland and Plant City police. It was part of a larger investigation into illegal prescriptions being passed in Tampa pharmacies, Durkin said.
In 1992, Cavallini, then 60, had another ethical run-in resulting in temporary suspension of his license after he admitted having sex with at least three patients.
Cavallini has no prior criminal record in Florida. He is being held without bail at Orient Road Jail.
Times news researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.
[Last modified January 12, 2006, 01:21:24]
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