California psychiatrist Duke Fisher arrested for selling prescriptions

September 11, 2013

Dr. Duke Fisher, a psychiatrist, has offices in Monterey and San Jose. He was arrested last week during an undercover operation when police said he made a deal in front of an undercover California Medical Board officer who was posing as a patient.

The board received complaints about Fisher abusing prescriptions and exchanging them for cash.

Fisher was arrested for prescribing drugs without a legitimate reason, selling them for cash, excessive prescribing and prescribing to a known addict.

Several undercover operations were conducted at Fisher's San Jose office where state medical board officers said he made deals with them and in front of them.

The operations are part of a new endeavor to crack down on prescription drug abuse by doctors.

"It's a situation where the consumer is really not being helped, but almost being a victim, and that's not what we want," said Cassandra Hockenson of the California Medical Board.

On Wednesday, a sign was posted on the door of Fisher's Monterey office that said the office was closed due to an emergency.

Fisher faces three felony counts of violating state health and safety codes, plus one misdemeanor count.

Source: "Monterey doctor arrested in undercover prescription drug sting," KSBW.com, September 5, 2013.