FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- A report by the Broward County, Fla., Inspector General's office said the Medical Examiner's office is unable to account for thousands of seized narcotic pills.
The report, issued Monday, is based on an investigation that began in November, which found several examples of gross misconduct, The Miami Herald reported.
The report alleges the Medical Examiner's office is unable to account for at least 2,100 oxycodone pills and more than 150 hydrocodone pills. An estimated 3,600 pills cannot be accounted for -- just a fraction of the missing substances.
The Medical Examiner's office seizes medications as part of investigations into violent, suspicious, unnatural and unattended deaths. Medications, as well as other deceased people's belongings, were routinely mishandled and inventory lax, the Inspector General's report said.
"Our investigation revealed a disturbing lack of professionalism at the Medical Examiner's office," Broward Inspector General John Scott told the Herald.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua Perper, who served from 1994 until he resigned in October, could not be reached for comment, the Herald said.
