Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. has issued a summary suspension of the controlled substance registration of Scott W. Houghton, M.D. of Old Saybrook, and has ordered a hearing regarding Houghton to determine if the summary suspension issued today should continue and his controlled substance registration be permanently revoked.
“We have strong reason to believe that Dr. Scott Houghton has prescribed prescription substances including Demerol, Percocet, Valium and Fentanyl for a patient in a frequency that exceeds his own directions for use,†Farrell said. “We also believe that Dr. Houghton prescribed other controlled substances for additional patients in a frequency that exceeds his own directions for use.â€
“In these actions, Dr. Houghton failed to prescribe controlled substances in good faith in the course of his professional practice, posing an imminent threat to the public health, safety and welfare, and requiring immediate emergency action,†Farrell said.
At a hearing on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at the Department of Consumer Protection, Dr. Houghton will have the right to appear and show cause why today’s summary suspension should not be continued until after a final decision is reached by Commissioner Farrell following a full hearing. Such hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
I have known Dr Houghton for several years. He is one of the most knowledgeable, compassionate and caring dr’s I have ever known. He takes the time to really listen to his patients. When you are in his office, you are never rushed. He gives his complete attention and time. it is my opinion, that when this investigation is completed, these allegations will be found to be false. Dr Houghton is well aware of the addictive qualities of controlled substances. He has a good heart and is always concerned about what is in the best interest of the patient. Dr Houghton is always interested not only in the physical problems his patients bring to the office but also in tending to patients emotional needs. For example, If a patient is suffering from depression/anxiety , he will strongly encourage psychotherapy in addition to medication. I find that Dr Houghton tends to be conservative in his prescribing medications and if he does prescribe a controlled substance, he is very clear with the patient about warning of the possibility of addiction. One has to wonder if this one patient mentioned in the article ( who allegedly was over prescribed medication) may have been disgruntled in some way because Dr Houghton had refused to continue to prescribe a controlled substance or had suggested chemical dependence treatment to that patient.? Dr H..keep your head up. Any patient or family member who has ever been in your office knows that you are one of the most caring,compassionate,intelligent, and honest dr’s one will ever encounter. I wish there were more doctors like you.
I fully agree with Tricia who wrote on Feb.5,2010.
God Bless Dr. Houghton !
i have been seeing Dr. Houghton for about a year now and i can honestly say he is one of the best Dr’s i have ever had. He truly cares about his patients and its clear to all who meet him that he loves what he does. I dont believe any of what is being said about him prescribing controlled substances in excessive amounts maybe he made a mistake but thats all it can be at most. He has prescribed me the exact amount that i need of what i take and has been very strict about it even when i pretty much begged for more he still kept it under control.
To whom it may concern this Dr is in my opinion the best Dr in the country . There are no other words to describe this man…..
Best doctor I been to in my life. This upsets me very much. Never had a doctor who cared about patients so much.
Dr. Houghton is by far the best Doc I have ever met in my lifetime! I refer everyone I know to him. He is caring, smart and has the “bed-side manner” that many Docs lack or could only hope to have. He takes the time to listen and not just rush you thru your appointment. He has listened to my personal problems as well as my medical concerns. He is the most dedicated Doctor that I have every met.
After reading this, I was shocked and commented to my spouse, that this has to be a political stunt! And sure enough in reading thru the article, we find that jerry Farrell is trying to move this political career up.
Farrell is obviously an opportunist-politian who deserves to be defeated. I vow to work against his political ambitions. AH is too nice a word to descibe him!
I have been a patient of Dr. Houghton’s for almost 2 years. He always made me feel comfotable, I usually uneasy around doctors. Most of them just see you as a a patient instead of a person. Dr. Houghton more than likely saved my life and I am greatful for him being there as my doctor. The ironic thing about this to me is, I am on Suboxone because I am a recovering addict. And for Dr.Houghton to be over prescribing pain meds to one person, while helping me get off the pain meds, seems innacurate. I dont believe allegations against him. I hope all goes well. And if you read this Dr. Houghton…… thanks for everything!
Dr. Houghton is the best ! He truly cares about his patients’ well being and quality of life. This narcophobia is ridiculous. I am confident he will be exonerated.
I am so happy to see these charges brought against this Dr. I brought my 14 year old son to this doctor to his “after hours” appointment where he acts a specialist for anxiety disorders. He is a pill pusher to the hightest. He said to my 14 year old son. affter I stressed that we did not want any drugs given to our son, “wouldn’t you like to get up every morning and pop a pill and everything will be ok” To me I hope this guy FRIES He abuses medication and I to speak to a teenagers like that is so irresponsible that it is hard to believe. So I hope this guy gets exactly what he deserves!!!!!!
BULL @#*t
I don’t believe a word of that. Dr Houghton is one of the most caring, and devoted Doc. that I have met in my 51 years.
I take my kids to him, and one of my son’s…numberous times with Hockey injuries, and the Doc ALWAYS aired on the side of caution before just hammering him with medications that he did not need.
A pill pusher he has NEVER been with any of my family, or friends in the years that we have been seeing him.
He deserves praise..not bashing
Wel Saybrook Dad If my story is not true ,then why is he in the situation that he finds himself. I didn’t start this some other poor family is suffering at his hands. We left after one appointment with this legalized drug pusher.
Guilty until proven innocent? Guilty is accused?
Well….Lets see….By my count on all these blogs here….you are out numbered by about 99 percent..What does that tell you..
I have always understood that Dr. Houghton never treatd people under 16 years of age. If that is the case, then “lacazza” does not know what he is talking about.
I have been a patient of Dr. Houghton’s for over 7 years. He is an exceptionally companssionate, caring, educated physician. He does something that is rare with physicians today……he listens, he gives you the time, the respect every individual deserves. I do not take my health lightly. Because of this I look to Dr. Houghton to help me to take care of me.
I feel Dr. Houghton has most likely been wrongly accused. He will be exonerated. He is a respectable physician.
Dr Scott Houghton is the only doctor I have seen in CT who uses his actual brain. I am a biologist myself, successfully reversing a chronic ‘untreatable’ disease, and I needed to find someone who would work with me as a team player. I researched thoroughly, tried many doctors, and fired them all. I was looking for a woman, but this man is better than any attentive woman doctor I have seen in the last decade, across multiple states in New England, including those in the big cities. I was actually shocked to find such a competent person in a shoreline town. I really do not care about bed side manner; I need the good brains in my corner. That’s why I choose Dr Houghton. All good people who actually try hard get strung up now and again by litigious wolves who are motivated predominantly by fear, confusion, and a lack of clear communication, not evil intention. The confusion usually gets straightened out once the dust settles. -Casey Sugarman
for anyone writing to this blog….has anyone heard about how the hearing went feb 23rd? Hoping no news is good news…..I wrote a blog a few weeks ago and also wrote a letter of support personally to dr Houghton in care of his office prior to thehearing. I also sent him all the blogs from this and other “news” sites. If you are reading this and are in support of Dr H, I know he would appreciate more letters of support should he have to continue to defend himself in this upsetting witch hunt.
I am a liscensed marriage and family therapist who has a family memeber being treated by Dr H. I work in a hospital and also private practice. I have met and worked with hundreds of dr’s in my career, and honestly, Dr H is in my top 3….he saved my family member and I will continue to support him any way I can….please take the time to write him a personal letter of support. We need MORE docs like him……
“jacazza” really worries me. This mother writes that she stressed to Dr. Houghton that she “did not want any drugs given to our son.” So she knows better than the doctor, in her own opinion. No drugs if her son has a problem that could end up impairiing him? Or maybe she’s just gullible. Maybe her SON said the doctor suggested medication and this mother is adding the “pop a pill” phrase to villify the doctor. Bottom line: did this mother have her son cared for properly, with medication and/or therapy? Or just flounce off thinking she knows best?
If you want to know how this idiocy possibly got started, you might look at the NY times business section (p. b2) for march 24 ” US Drug Move Said to Deprive Elderly”.
The Consumer Protection folks are apparently protecting the dependent elderly
from pain relief.