Phila. doctor facing drug crimes

A Philadelphia doctor has been charged with drug crimes after he allegedly bought and prescribed thousands of narcotic pills while both his state license to practice and his Drug Enforcement Agency license were expired.

Murray C. Soss, 70, of the 2000 block of Walnut Lane, was arrested Wednesday and charged with prescribing outside a patient relationship, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance. He is free on recognizance.

Soss, an osteopathic physician whose medical office is at 7516 City Ave., "is now totally compliant with all aspects of his licensure," his attorney, Peter Scuderi, said. The matter was dealt with administratively in 2007, he said.

According to court records, Soss' medical license was expired between October 2004 and January 2007. His DEA certificate of registration was expired between Jan. 31, 2003, and Oct. 11, 2007.

State records show Soss did not pay the required medical malpractice liability insurance premiums after August 2002. In July 2003, the state sent a notice telling him he was not in compliance, and he failed to provide proof of insurance.

When Soss applied to renew his license in December 2006, he admitted to practicing medicine without a license during the time his license had lapsed, the records say.

Soss was ordered to pay a fine of $39,159. His license was suspended for two years but the suspension was immediately stayed in favor of two years of probation.

As Philadelphia investigators were looking into Soss, his license was switched from probationary to nonprobationary status effective March 5, according to state records.

Charlie Young, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State, said enforcement agencies in the state were prohibited by law from sharing information about criminal investigations without a warrant or affidavit.

"Quite often we are slowed down in doing our mission of protecting the public because of this," Young said. He said his agency was seeking legislative approval to change the law.

Young said the agency would review any information provided by the state Attorney General's Office and, if warranted, begin an investigation.

Between Jan. 31, 2003, and Oct. 11, 2007, Soss allegedly ordered thousands of pills from a pharmaceutical company and dispensed them to patients, according to records.

During the same time, Soss also prescribed medications for himself, according to court records.

At one pharmacy in Wynnewood, only 10 of 491 prescriptions and 349 refills Soss wrote were valid. They were written before his license expired, according to court records.