Disgraced former Long Island doctor George Blatti was sentenced to possibly more than a decade in prison for over-prescribing opioids, leading to the deaths of 5 patients. NBC New York’s Greg Cergol reports.
What to Know
- A disgraced Long Island doctor was sentenced after five of his patients died as a result of him over-prescribing opioids while he worked from his car.
- George Blatti, 78, was sentenced to five to 15 years behind bars after pleading guilty in October to five counts of manslaughter as part of a plea deal made with prosecutors.
- It was from inside his car and at his office -- a former Radio Shack -- that Blatti allegedly met customers through 2019, according to the original indictment
A disgraced Long Island doctor was sentenced to possibly more than a decade in prison after five of his patients died as a result of him over-prescribing opioids while he worked from his car.
George Blatti, 78, was sentenced to five to 15 years behind bars after pleading guilty in October to five counts of manslaughter as part of a plea deal made with prosecutors. He initially faced five counts of second-degree murder and 11 counts of reckless endangerment.
Between 2016 and 2018, five of Blatti's patients died of drug overdoses. Prosecutors said he wrote thousands of opioid prescriptions inside an old electronics store and from inside his car, handing out pill indiscriminately — and often with no medical exam — as he used his prescription pad and a killing tool.
The alleged victims — three men and two women, all between the ages of 30-60 — were prescribed 45,000 pills over a four-year time frame, even though prosecutors said each showed clear signs of addiction. In one case, it was said that Blatti prescribed the victim nine times the daily maximum recommended dosage of opioids.
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Additionally, prosecutors say that in some cases, he allegedly prescribed opioid painkillers at patients’ request to other individuals he had never met or spoken to.
News
It was at this office that Blatti allegedly met customers though 2019, according to the original indictment. After he lost access to that space, he allegedly saw patients in his car, prescribing medications with no examination from the parking lots of the Rockville Centre hotel — where he lived — and a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts, prosecutors say.
Blatti allegedly used paper prescriptions pursuant to a waiver issued by the New York State Health Commissioner at the time, allowing him to avoid using the state’s secure electronic prescription system. This system is generally required, and provides for greater oversight.
"In the face of that tragedy, my client did the only thing he could which was plead guilty and accept responsibility and punishment," said Blatti's attorney after the sentencing.
Blatti again told the judge that he accepted responsibility for what he did.
But the families of three victims had the last word in court Monday, and were not nearly as sympathetic to Blatti's defense, calling the former doctor an animal and a murderer who chose financial gain over human life.
"He’s a piece of garbage. I’m a nurse. He’s no doctor," said Sandra Kinzer, whose 44-year-old brother Michael died two days after receiving a pain prescription from the then-Great Neck doctor.
Valerie Kinzer told NBC New York she believes Blatti feels no remorse for the death of her husband and the others. The families said they were not happy with the plea deal, but were willing to accept it.
"I have to get on with my life I have two boys to raise and that’s most important," said Valerie Kinzer.
