LibGuides: True Crime Book Club: Nov. 2024

Fact vs Fiction: Paul Volkman

Paul Volkman is a former physician who gained notoriety for his involvement in one of the most notorious cases of prescription drug abuse and illegal distribution of controlled substances in the United States. Here is an overview of his biography:

Early Life and Education

Birth and Background: Paul Volkman was born on July 24, 1954, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in a family with a medical background, which influenced his career choice.
Education: Volkman attended the University of Virginia, where he completed his undergraduate studies. He then went on to attend medical school at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he earned his M.D. degree.

Medical Career

Professional Practice: After completing his medical education, Volkman worked as an internist, specializing in internal medicine. He began his career with the expectation of contributing positively to patient care.
Shift to Controversy: Over time, Volkman’s medical practice became increasingly controversial. He was known for prescribing large quantities of prescription painkillers, including opioids, often with little regard for the potential for abuse or the well-being of his patients.

Criminal Activities and Conviction

Prescription Drug Abuse: Volkman’s practice evolved into what many considered a "pill mill," where he was accused of prescribing excessive amounts of narcotics without proper medical justification. His methods attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies.
Legal Issues: In 2008, Volkman was arrested and charged with multiple counts related to his prescription practices. He was accused of knowingly contributing to the opioid epidemic by over-prescribing addictive pain medications.
Conviction: In 2009, Volkman was convicted on charges including drug trafficking and other related offenses. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. His case was significant in highlighting the role of medical professionals in the prescription drug crisis.

Legacy and Impact

Impact on Medical Community: Volkman’s case had a profound impact on the medical community, drawing attention to the need for stricter regulations and oversight regarding the prescription of controlled substances. It underscored the dangers of prescription drug abuse and the importance of ethical practices in medicine.
Opioid Crisis Awareness: The case contributed to the broader discussion about the opioid crisis in the United States, which has had devastating effects on individuals and communities nationwide.

MLN Materials

book

Synopsis

This haunting and propulsive debut follows a journalist's years-long investigation into his father's old classmate: former high school valedictorian Paul Volkman, who once seemed destined for greatness after earning his MD and his PhD from the prestigious University of Chicago, but is now serving four consecutive life sentences at a federal prison in Arizona. Volkman was the central figure in a massive 'pill mill' scheme in southern Ohio. His pain clinics accepted only cash, employed armed guards, and dispensed a torrent of opioid painkillers and other controlled substances. For nearly three years, Volkman remained in business despite raids by law enforcement and complaints from patients' family members. Prosecutors would ultimately link him to the overdose deaths of 13 patients, though investigators explored his ties to at least 20 other deaths. This groundbreaking book is based on 12 years of correspondence and interviews with Volkman. Eil also traveled to 19 states, interviewed more than 150 people, and filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Administration that led to the release of nearly 20,000 pages of trial evidence. The American opioid epidemic is, like this book, a true crime story. Through this one doctor's story, an era of unfathomable tragedy is brought down to a tangible, and devastating, human scale.

Discussion Questions

Character Analysis: What were the key factors that led Dr. Michael Swango from a promising medical career to becoming known as the "Pill Mill Killer"? How did his personal background, professional experiences, and psychological state contribute to his actions?
Ethical Dilemmas: How does the book address the ethical responsibilities of medical professionals in relation to prescription practices? What are the implications of Dr. Swango's actions for the medical community's efforts to prevent prescription drug abuse?
Systemic Failures: What systemic issues within the healthcare system allowed Dr. Swango's behavior to continue for as long as it did? How can these systems be improved to prevent similar cases in the future?
Impact on Victims: How does the book portray the impact of Dr. Swango's actions on his patients and their families? What are the long-term consequences for individuals who are affected by prescription drug abuse?
Legal and Regulatory Responses: How did law enforcement and regulatory bodies respond to Dr. Swango's activities? Were there any specific legal or procedural changes that emerged as a result of his case?
Media Influence: How does the book describe the role of media in shaping public perception of Dr. Swango and his crimes? What impact does media coverage have on the cases of medical professionals involved in criminal activities?
Preventive Measures: What strategies or policies does the book suggest for preventing medical professionals from engaging in similar criminal behavior? How effective are these measures in addressing the broader issue of prescription drug abuse?
Psychological Profile: What psychological traits or disorders, if any, are highlighted in Dr. Swango's profile? How do these traits align with or differ from other cases of medical professionals who have engaged in unethical or criminal behavior?
Role of Peer Oversight: How did peer oversight and professional accountability play a role in Dr. Swango's case? What can be done to strengthen peer review and oversight in the medical field to prevent future incidents?
Personal Reflections: How did reading this book affect your perception of the medical profession and its regulatory framework? Did it change your views on prescription drug use or the responsibilities of healthcare providers?

About the Author: Philip Eil

Philip Eil is a journalist and author known for his investigative reporting and in-depth storytelling. Here’s a brief overview of his biography:

Early Life and Education

Philip Eil was born and raised in the United States. He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he earned a degree in journalism. His educational background provided a solid foundation for his career in investigative journalism.

Career

Eil has worked in various capacities within journalism, including as a reporter and editor. His career includes reporting for local newspapers and contributing to national publications. He is known for his thorough research and compelling narrative style, which have become hallmarks of his work.

Notable Works

Philip Eil’s notable works include:

"Prescription for Pain: How a Once-Promising Doctor Became the 'Pill Mill Killer'": This book explores the dramatic and troubling story of Dr. Michael Swango, a physician whose medical practice devolved into a criminal enterprise involving the illegal distribution of prescription drugs. Eil’s investigation sheds light on the systemic issues and personal factors that led to this tragic situation.
"Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy": In this book, Eil delves into the 1898 Wilmington coup, a violent event that resulted in the overthrow of a legitimately elected government and the imposition of white supremacist rule in Wilmington, North Carolina. Eil’s work provides historical context and explores the long-lasting effects of this event on American society.

Writing Style and Impact

Philip Eil’s writing is characterized by meticulous research and a focus on uncovering hidden truths. His investigative approach often involves deep dives into complex stories, bringing to light details that might otherwise remain obscured. Eil’s work contributes significantly to the fields of journalism and historical research, offering readers insights into significant but sometimes overlooked aspects of American history and contemporary issues.

Contributions and Recognition

Eil has been recognized for his contributions to journalism, and his works have been praised for their depth and rigor. His investigative pieces often spark discussions about important societal issues and contribute to a greater understanding of complex topics.

Overall, Philip Eil's career reflects a commitment to investigative journalism and a passion for uncovering and documenting important stories.

Bad Medicine by Charlotte Bismuth
Call Number: 344.747 Bismuth
In 2010, a brave whistleblower alerted the police to Dr. Stan Li's corrupt pain management clinic in Queens, New York. Li spent years supplying more than seventy patients a day with oxycodone and Xanax, trading prescriptions for cash. Emergency room doctors, psychiatrists, and desperate family members warned him that his patients were at risk of death but he would not stop. In Bad Medicine , former prosecutor Charlotte Bismuth meticulously recounts the jaw dropping details of this criminal case that would span four years, culminating in a landmark trial. As a new assistant district attorney and single mother, Bismuth worked tirelessly with her team to bring Dr. Li to justice. Bad Medicine is a chilling story of corruption and greed and an important look at the role individual doctors play in America's opioid epidemic.
American Overdose by Chris McGreal
Call Number: 362.29 McGreal
The opioid epidemic has been described as "one of the greatest mistakes of modern medicine." But calling it a mistake is a generous rewriting of the history of greed, corruption, and indifference that pushed the US into consuming more than 80 percent of the world's opioid painkillers. Journeying through lives and communities wrecked by the epidemic, Chris McGreal reveals not only how Big Pharma hooked Americans on powerfully addictive drugs, but the corrupting of medicine and public institutions that let the opioid makers get away with it.
In Pain by Travis Rieder
Call Number: 362.29 Rieder
A bioethicist's eloquent and riveting memoir of opioid dependence and withdrawal--a harrowing personal reckoning and clarion call for change not only for government but medicine itself, revealing the lack of crucial resources and structures to handle this insidious nationwide epidemic.
American Pain by John Temple
Call Number: 362.29 Temple
The king of the Florida pill mills was American Pain, a mega-clinic expressly created to serve addicts posing as patients. From a fortress-like former bank building, American Pain's doctors distributed massive quantities of oxycodone to hundreds of customers a day, mostly traffickers and addicts who came by the vanload. Inked muscle-heads ran the clinic's security. Former strippers operated the pharmacy, counting out pills and stashing cash in garbage bags. Under their lab coats, the doctors carried guns--and it was all legal... sort of. American Pain was the brainchild of Chris George, a 27-year-old convicted drug felon.
Death in Mud Lick by Eric Eyre
Call Number: 362.293 Eyre
Death in Mud Lick is the story of a pharmacy in Kermit, West Virginia, that distributed 12 million opioid pain pills in three years to a town with a population of 382 people--and of one woman, desperate for justice, after losing her brother to overdose. Debbie Preece's fight for accountability for her brother's death took her well beyond the Sav-Rite Pharmacy in coal country, ultimately leading to three of the biggest drug wholesalers in the country. She was joined by a crusading lawyer and by local journalist, Eric Eyre, who uncovered a massive opioid pill-dumping scandal that shook the foundation of America's largest drug companies--and won him a Pulitzer Prize. Part Erin Brockovich , part Spotlight , Death in Mud Lick details the clandestine meetings with whistleblowers; a court fight to unseal filings that the drug distributors tried to keep hidden, a push to secure the DEA pill-shipment data, and the fallout after Eyre's local paper, the Gazette-Mail , the smallest newspaper ever to win a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting, broke the story.
Pain Killer by Barry Meier
Call Number: 362.299 MEIER
Pain Killer OxyContin, a potent painkiller containing opium-derived oxycodone as its key active ingredient, was first sold in 1996 as a treatment for cancer patients and other chronic pain sufferers. From the start, the drug's manufacturer aggressively marketed its patented time-release formula as a breakthrough in the effort to reduce prescription drug abuse. It wasn't long, however, before thrill-seeking teenagers shattered that illusion of safety; by simply crushing an "Oxy," they were able to tap into a high so seductive it would come to dominate their lives. Some patients, seeking relief from pain, also found themselves drawn to the drug's dark side.
Dopesick by Beth Macy
Call Number: 362.2909 Macy
In this extraordinary work, Beth Macy takes us into the epicenter of a national drama that has unfolded over two decades. From the labs and marketing departments of big pharma to local doctor's offices; wealthy suburbs to distressed small communities in Central Appalachia; from distant cities to once-idyllic farm towns; the spread of opioid addiction follows a tortuous trajectory that illustrates how this crisis has persisted for so long and become so firmly entrenched. Beginning with a single dealer who lands in a small Virginia town and sets about turning high school football stars into heroin overdose statistics, Macy sets out to answer a grieving mother's question-why her only son died-and comes away with a gripping, unputdownable story of greed and need.
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Call Number: 929.20973 Keefe
A narrative account of how a prominent wealthy family sponsored the creation and marketing of one of the most commonly prescribed and addictive painkillers of the opioid crisis.