Oxford doctor takes the stand in his own defense

Dr. Rick Bucher, who is charged with multiple counts of drug trafficking, took the stand Wednesday in his own defense on the second day of trial in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Bucher, 60, is charged with multiple counts of drug trafficking for allegedly selling more than 700 Oxycodone pills and other drugs to a person who worked at his Oxford office, Ohio Family Practice on Morning Sun Road.

The doctor, who has practiced medicine for 34 years, testified that he did write prescriptions for the woman when she complained of back pain as well as anxiety and stress.

Crystal Patterson worked in the doctor’s office for about a year, but was employed by an outside company to conduct toxicology screens on patients prescribed controlled substances.

Bucher admitted that he never asked Patterson, about past opioid abuse. He also said he did not know she had previously sought treatment for drug abuse and later was trading the medication he prescribed for heroin.

But Bucher said he did take Patterson into an examination room and question her about her pain and if medications were working before he wrote each prescription.

“She came to me and asked if I would help her,” Bucher said, adding he took her into an examination room and looked at her back, which was tender.

On Tuesday, Patterson testified there was no examination by Bucher and he never monitored her opioid usage.

Patterson also admitted that she kept her previous addiction a secret.

Bucher testified that he did not receive money or any other “kickbacks” for writing Patterson prescriptions.

Bucher said in an audio interview with an agent from the Ohio Medical Board that was played for the jury that he had written improper prescriptions for Patterson because he did not maintain a chart for her.

When questioned by his attorney Christopher Pagan, Bucher said he prescribed the medication for Patterson with a medical purpose because she was in pain and he could see the results in her demeanor in the office.

Dr. William Rogers, a physician and police officer with a drug task force in Hamilton County, testified for the prosecution.

“Dr. Bucher failed to meet the minimum statutory requirements incumbent on physicians when prescribing controlled substances,” Rogers said.

Prosecutors have said that Bucher did not assess Patterson’s pain level or medical history when writing her eight prescriptions from August 2015 to December 2015. He did not maintain a medical chart or copies of Patterson’s prescriptions, which is required by law.

“The law will tell you what a doctor is required to do to write prescriptions for controlled substances. None of which he did, which is illegal,” Assistant Butler County Prosecutor David Kash told the jury on Tuesday.

Bucher is charged with seven counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and two courts of trafficking in drugs. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 22 years in prison.

The trial is scheduled to continue Thursday with the defense calling medical experts.

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