Doctor accused of prescribing drugs illegally

ENCINO - Charges have been filed against an Encino physician for allegedly prescribing various narcotic drugs without a legitimate medical need.Dr. Yahya Hedvat, who runs an Encino medical clinic called "Urgent Care," was arrested Aug. 15 on a warrant charging him with eight felony counts of unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance, including hydrocodone, suboxone and clonazepam. Deputy District Attorneys John Niedermann and Emily Street with the Major Narcotics Division are prosecuting the case. The 68-year-old Hedvat, who specializes in internal medicine, allegedly prescribed various narcotic drugs to undercover agents with the California Medical Board without performing proper examinations or prescribing the drugs for a legitimate medical purpose, Niedermann said. The complaint alleges Hedvat wrote unlawful prescriptions to clients in August 2012 and to undercover agents beginning in February. If convicted as charged, he faces up to seven years, eight months in county jail.

********** Published: Aug. 22, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 19