Nova Scotia

Tantallon doctor's alleged trafficking scheme called 'dirty trick' by former patient

A 67-year-old patient says he's angry his name was allegedly used by his former doctor to acquire tens of thousands of opioid pills in an alleged drug trafficking scheme.

Dr. Sarah Jones is accused of trafficking using pills prescribed in Merel Doug Chase's name

Merel Doug Chase says Dr. Sarah Jones, his former physician, was a good doctor. (CBC)

A 67-year-old patient says he's angry his name was allegedly used by his former doctor to acquire tens of thousands of opioid pills in an alleged drug trafficking scheme.

"I'd call that a pretty low down, dirty trick," Merel Doug Chase told CBC News on Wednesday.

Chase's former physician is Dr. Sarah Jones, who is charged with drug trafficking. It's alleged the 35-year-old doctor wrote prescriptions for 50,000 oxycodone and oxyneo pills, picked them up herself and did not give them to the patient.

According to court documents, the alleged scheme took place between January 2014 to August 2015 and the prescriptions were written for Chase.

"I don't want to get blamed through her or anybody else of something I didn't do," the Lunenburg County man said.

Doctor made house calls

Chase said Jones was his family doctor until 2013. He thought she was "A1" because she made house calls from her office in Tantallon, more than 80 kilometres away.

"Instead of me coming down, she said she'd save me gas by her bringing my drugs up to me," he said.

Chase said he has no idea why Jones would use his name and he's never had a prescription for the painkillers in question.

"I wouldn't know what it looked like. Honest and truly," he said.

Chase says he's not looking forward to the possibility of testifying in court, but wants to make it clear he has nothing to do with the case.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia tipped off police in August after its registrar received a call from a concerned pharmacist on Aug. 21. A committee began investigating the matter that day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Chiu is an award-winning reporter in Nova Scotia. She's passionate about engaging with the community to share their stories. Send your story idea to [email protected].