Jacksonville.com
The Trial of Dr. Chua
Chua, 45, has been held in the Camden County jail since September 2006 when he was arrested and charged with the drug overdose death of Jamie Carter III. Prosecutors say Carter, 20, died from drugs Chua prescribed for no legitimate medical purpose.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Doctor for defense disputes earlier medical testimony

The day's first witness for the defense, William Hueston, a medical instructor from the University of South Carolina, said he reviewed medical records from Chua's office.

He concluded Carter suffered from pain and headaches and believed the patient's complaints were legitimate.

The records from Chua and other doctors indicated Carter was in severe pain, he testified.

He speculated Carter was prescribed so many different drugs in an attempt by Chua to find a medication that worked.

There was "no evidence" other doctors were successful in treating Carter's headaches, he said.

Hueston said Chua was "fairly cautious" with the drugs he prescribed to Carter.

As treatment progressed, he said Chua prescribed longer lasting medications in an attempt to treat Carter's headaches.

The medications prescribed by Chua for Carter when he was hospitalized a month before his death were for legitimate reasons, he said.

"I think everything was appropriate for the practice of medicine," Hueston said of Chua's treatment of Carter during the hospitalization.

He disagreed with previous testimony by a medical expert for the prosecution who said it is inappropriate for a patient to receive a morphine injection prior to being discharged from a hospital.

The dosages of drugs prescribed by Chua were well within normal standards, he said.

He said Carter was not going through withdrawal from drugs because prescription pain killers were found in the home after Carter overdosed and died.

The methadone was likely prescribed in a legitimate attempt to treat Carter's headaches, he said.

"It's only used when everything else has failed," he said.

He said there is no rule about physicians taking unused drugs from patients. He said it's "common practice" for physicians to prescribe different drugs to treat an ailment. When drugs are returned, Hueston said he flushes them down a toilet while the patient watches.

.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was evident that Jamie used drugs before meeting Dr Chua. His own family knew it. Why didn't they send him into rehab? It was also stated earlier, in a twisted way for the prosecution, that because he "supposedly" lost a prescription, he could have been an addict. Just because a doctor is prescribing you a drug doesn't mean that is the only place you are getting them. Todays big drug problem isn't illicit drugs (so much), it's pain medications. These drugs are all over the streets today and there are thousands upon thousands addicted to them. Jamie was evidently a statistic. Though it is sad, I do not believe Dr Chua was anymore involved in his death than any other doctor prescribing drugs to him. Drugs come with a dosage, and that is what you take. Jamie, not the doctor, chose to not adhere to it.

Anonymous said...

I have an elderly family member who uses three or four doctors and is able to get pain medication from all of them. He is old, feeble, very convincing! I believe at one point he was in a lot of pain, but I believe his problem now is addiction to pain meds. It seems to me this Dr. Chua has done nothing that most of our family physicians aren't doing.

Anonymous said...

Dr Chua had sex with his 16 year old patient. He seems to enjoy the company of teenage boys....especially those who is hooked in drugs. As a doctor who is LIVING WITH HIS PATIENT..he was totally aware of how addicted his patient is. REMEMBER THEY SHARE THE SAME HOUSE...WHICH IS BIZARRE FOR A 45 YEAR OLD DOCTOR AND A 19 YEAR OLD STUDENT...but we all know..THEY HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP...DR CHUA PROVIDE THE DRUGS IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS UNLIMITED SEXUAL MOLESTATION OF HIS TEENAGE VICTIM...

Anonymous said...

This case is not about sex! Where have you been for the past year?

georgia girl said...

was jamie an addict? YES!!!! anyone around him could see this, espeically if they were living and working with him. if dr.chua had not given him the drugs would he have found another way to get them? again YES!!! but the good doctor used this to his advantage. he used the drugs to keep jamie on a leash. jamie was not a homosexual, he loved the girls and they loved him. but a addict will do what ever it takes to feed their addiction, and dr chua supplied a all you can eat buffet. as someone in the medical field the number n type of drugs he gave jamie was not normal or safe. jamie started out with a true medical problem that turned into an addiction and dr chua enabled this. should the family have stepped in sooner? YES!!! and beleive me they are being eaten up everyday with that guilt. dr chua did shoot jamie with a gun, but he did supply the bullets. he is guilty!!!

Anonymous said...

We have heard your sick and phony allegations for the past year. You have less than a week to post them.
Then your propaganda hate will have te cease while eat the old Humble Pie!!

Anonymous said...

Even if the doctor had sex with his other patients, it has nothing to do with Carter's death.

Anonymous said...

Some of you have your facts all wrong. This case is kinda about sex and that cannot be overlooked..Do I believe jamie had sex with the doctor NO i do not ( or atleast not knowingly). Jamie did have a problem and yes the family knew about it, but they did not know that the problem was arising up again like it was that is where the problem is.. Dr.Chua took advantage of this situation alright..BTW whoever said "People who worked and lived with him could tell he was an adict") I find that very very false..I will not say where I know him from and for how long, but I guarantee it wasnt until close up to his death that this problem became quite obvious..For those that "think" dr.chua is not in trouble here..get the crap out of your ears and listen to the facts that are at hand..THERE WAS ALOT OF DRUGS THAT WERENT SUPPOSE TO BE IN HIM THAT WERE AT THE TIME OF DEATH...