A Marlboro physician?s license was suspended after he prescribed unnecessary pain medication to patients, and allegations that a drug ring was operated out of his medical office are being investigated, according to the Attorney General?s Office.
Dr. Phillip Pollen has been under investigation since 2011 when he allegedly prescribed a patient drugs for back pain despite an MRI scan that showed negative results. New investigations into Pollen have since been opened into allegations including that his girlfriend and daughter?s boyfriend operated a drug ring out of his office at 245 Route 79 in Marlboro, according to the Attorney General?s Office.
Pollen allegedly wrote patients? prescriptions without evaluations and then dropped off the drugs at local pharmacies, according to the order. Pollen?s office in South Amboy has closed because of non-payment of taxes.
A second investigation is based on information provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration: According to the DEA, Pollen?s office manager and live-in girlfriend and Pollen?s daughter?s live-in boyfriend were operating a drug ring out of Pollen?s office in the Morganville section of Marlboro.
?Prescription drug abuse is a deadly epidemic,? Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said. ?The allegations against this physician are very disturbing. While these investigations continue, the Board of Medical Examiners correctly acted to protect the public by temporarily halting his practice.?
In April 2010 Pollen was arrested by the Matawan Police Department on one count of possession or use of controlled dangerous substances and two counts of possession of prescription drugs. That July the Monmouth County Superior Court charged him with one count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance or analog, according to the Attorney General?s Office.
At that time, the court granted Pollen pre-trial intervention and he was evaluated by the Physician?s Assistance Program. He remained in the program until Feb. 2011.
Pollen agreed on July 24 to temporarily surrender his license to practice medicine in New Jersey and his State Controlled Drug Registration and his Federal Drug Enforcement Registration, according to authorities.
He agreed that before his license would be reinstated, he would undergo a neuropyschological evaluation and a physician?s skill evaluation. His license will remain suspended until further order from the Board of Medical Examiners, according to the Attorney General?s Office.
Patients of Dr. Pollen?s in need of medical attention are advised to go to local hospitals.
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