Wellesley physician will pay $25k to resolve allegations

From the United States Department of Justice:

A Wellesley plastic surgeon has agreed to pay $25,000 to resolve allegations that he provided controlled substances to family members outside the usual course of his professional practice and failed to maintain records and accurate inventories of controlled substances.

Arthur Shektman, M.D., a plastic surgeon practicing in Wellesley, has agreed to pay $25,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act by dispensing controlled substances outside the usual course of his professional practice and by failing to maintain complete and accurate inventories of controlled substances.

“The proper handling of prescriptions is a critical part of patient safety and crucial to preventing drug diversion,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “This office will continue to ensure that DEA registrants meet federal record keeping requirements, whether they are solo physician practices or large pharmacy chains.”

“DEA registrants are responsible for handling controlled substances responsibly and ensuring that complete and accurate records are being properly kept and accounted for in compliance with the Controlled Substance Act,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Boston Field Division. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that these rules and regulations are followed.”

According to the allegations in the settlement, on two occasions, Dr. Shektman provided controlled substances to two family members outside the usual course of his professional practice. Dr. Shektman also allegedly failed to maintain records pertaining to Schedule II controlled substances and failed to maintain complete and accurate inventories of controlled substances.

Dr. Shektman cooperated with the federal investigation and has agreed to pay $25,000 to resolve the government’s allegations. He has also agreed to enter into a three-year Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA to come into compliance with the record keeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.

U.S. Attorney Lelling and DEA SAC Boyle made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Ross of Lelling’s Civil Division handled the case.