Medical Examiner Sentenced for Opioid Conspiracy
Medical Examiner Sentenced for Opioid Conspiracy
Former county and state medical examiner and forensic pathologist pleads guilty to conspiring to illegally distribute opioid painkillers.
Dr. Joseph L. Burton, a former county and state medical examiner and forensic pathologist, has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to illegally distribute opioid painkillers. Dr. Burton was indicted along with seven other individuals in February 2018. Four of Dr. Burton’s co-defendants have already been sentenced, and two more are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to similar charges.
UPDATE: Burton died in federal prison in November, 2019.
Approximate date(s) of the diversion:
07/01/2015
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Atlanta, GA
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Hospital
Person Diverting:
Joseph Lawson Burton
Profession of the person diverting:
Physician or Medical Doctor (MD)
Has the incident been reported?
e.g. to local law enforcement, county board of health, state licensure board, and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Yes
To whom has the incident been reported?
Local Law Enforcement, , and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Publicly available news reports about the incident: