Federal jury convicts Columbus-area doctor of illegally prescribing opioids

A federal jury has convicted a Columbus-area doctor of illegally prescribing opioids and other drugs.

Eskender Getachew, 58, of Galena, Delaware County, was found guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court of 11 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Getachew was a neurologist for more than 20 years and also a psychiatrist and a pharmacist. He owned and operated Polaris Wellness and Recovery Center as well as the Regional Neurology and Sleep Medicine Institute, both on Columbus' Far North Side, according to court documents. He had privileges at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital that ended in 2019, a hospital system spokesperson said.

In announcing the verdict Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice said Getachew unlawfully prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines (tranquilizers like Valium) to his patients. This included the opioid Subutex, which has a high risk of abuse, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Getachew prescribed more pills for patients who paid more at their office visits, and disregarded reports that patients were selling their Subutex.

A defense attorney for Getachew did not immediately respond on Friday to a request from The Dispatch for comment.

Getachew will be sentenced by a federal judge at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.

Getachew, who graduated from Medical College of Ohio in 1999, was issued a doctor's license in 2005 by the State Medical Board, had his license renewed in December 2022 — after he was charged — and it is currently active with an expiration date of Jan 1, 2025, board records online indicate.

Getachew also had a pharmacist's license that was issued in July 1992, renewed in September 2021 and set to expire Sept. 15., board records online show.

The State Medical Board cited Getachew in May 2022 after the Ohio Department of Medicaid suspended his Medicaid provider agreement and all Medicaid reimbursements related to “credible allegation of fraud,” which "collectively constituted termination or suspension from participation" in Medicare or Medicaid programs by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A hearing was offered Getachew, but online medical records do not indicate that one was held.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jury convicts Columbus-area doctor of illegal opiod prescriptions