Doctor charged with large-scale drug fraud

DENVER, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A pediatrician on the staff of Children's Hospital in Denver faces federal drug charges for allegedly obtaining pain and sleeping medication fraudulently.

A federal indictment charges Dr. Louis Hampers, who also teaches at the University of Colorado, with one count of conspiracy and 654 of obtaining medication through prescription fraud, The Denver Post reported. Hampers obtained medication using the names of real patients and also used prescription cards with fake names, investigators say.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested Hampers Tuesday in Virginia.

Hampers has been on leave from the university since April, a spokeswoman said. In August, he agreed to stop practicing medicine to avoid a suspension by the Colorado Medical Board.

The university hired Hampers in 1999 under a contract that required him to practice at Children's as well as teach. He became head of the department of emergency medicine.

"We are conducting a detailed review, and at this time have found no evidence that clinical care was compromised during his tenure," Dr. Joan Bothner, the hospital's chief medical officer, said in a statement. "In addition, an internal review has confirmed that our systems and procedures to prevent drug diversion were effective, as there is no evidence that drugs were taken or used from the hospital."