New Jersey psychiatrist Priscilla Ilem suspended on prescribing charge

November 10, 2011

On September 8, 2011, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners suspended the license of psychiatrist Priscilla G. Ilem on an emergency basis, after she was criminally charged with illegally issuing prescription painkillers (the actual charge is designated as “distributing a controlled substance beyond the bounds of a medical practice”).

Ilem's arrest came after a two-month investigation which was begun based on reports from the parents of patients, confidential informants and other sources that Ilem was overprescribing controlled substances such as Oxycontin. Some of her patients were suspected area drug dealers under separate investigation. Ilem was reprimanded by the New Jersey Medical Board in August 2007 for having written twenty-three prescriptions for controlled dangerous substances at times that she did not possess a valid DEA registration, and having submitted falsified patient records to the Board during the pendency of a Board investigation of her practice.

She was additionally assessed a civil penalty of $13,000 as well as legal fees and costs of more than $27,000 in that action.  

Source: Matthew McGrath, "84-year-old Wayne psychiatrist arrested on drug charges," The Record, August 16, 2011 and John Ensslin, “Doctor’s license is suspended in light of prescription arrest,” The Record, September 21, 2011.