Camden County Doctor Loses License After Being Deemed An 'Easy Mark' For Drug Seeking Patients

MERCHANTVILLE, N.J., (CBS) -- Dr. Adam C. Gilliss has had his medical license revoked by the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners. The board made the decision after the committee stated that Gilliss "was perceived to be an 'easy mark' for drug-seeking patients."

The board also stated that Gilliss endangered the lives of his patients by negligently prescribing to them addictive painkillers.

"The authority to make controlled painkillers available to patients is truly a life and death responsibility," Attorney General John J. Hoffman said. "Doctors who abuse this authority, either through greed or negligence, should be removed from practice."

Gilliss, a physician in Merchantville, N.J., will be forced to wait at least two years before he will be allowed to apply to have his licence reinstated.

He will also have to pay a $30,000 civil penalty and a $20,000 reimbursement for the state's legal costs.

Gilliss was also lose his ability to prescribe controlled dangerous substances as his authority to do so has been permanently revoked which will remain the case even if his medical license is one day restored.

According to officials, Gilliss prescribed addictive narcotic painkillers to several patients and failed to determine whether or not use of the drug was necessary for the patient.

New Jersey officials say Gilliss' treatment of seven different patients constituted gross negligence and professional or occupational misconduct. In addition, officials add that the patients were at risk to develop a dependency or overdose.