Charges against former doctor 'likely'
Friday, March 31, 2006 6:36 AM PST
By Barbara LaBoe
Printable version
E-mail this articleLewis County officials still are deciding whether to file criminal charges against former doctor Lance Christiansen, but they say there may be enough evidence to support a criminal case.
Without admitting guilt, Christiansen in February surrendered his medical license in the face of state and civil accusations that he killed patients. The state had suspended the osteopath's license in June, alleging that his incompetence, misdiagnoses and prescriptions of strong narcotics were to blame for six patients' deaths.
Christiansen also faces 20 civil lawsuits, which accuse him in four other patient deaths.
Christiansen, according to state records, diagnosed many patients as suffering from complications of rheumatic fever, a real but rare condition.
Part of his self-developed treatment regimen included prescribing methadone for pain. Several patients died of methadone overdoses, but Christiansen argued with county coroners, claiming the real cause of death was a heart condition that he believes was linked rheumatic fever.
Lewis County prosecutors want to review the state's evidence against Christiansen before deciding on criminal charges, but the office has been tied up with several high-profile cases.
Still, Prosecutor Jeremy Randolph said it's "more likely than not" that prosecutors will be able to make a case for negligence and manslaughter. The case may include Cowlitz County patients, since all would have seen Christiansen in his offices in Toledo, Winlock and Onalaska.
If they do decide to charge Christiansen, prosecutors also would have to find him.
Randolph said he has received reports that Christiansen is in Mexico. Since he hasn't been charged, Christiansen can visit or move to Mexico, but Randolph wants to keep track of his whereabouts.
Christiansen's last known telephone number in Toledo has been disconnected.
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