Daily News (New York)

December 23, 2004 Thursday
SPORTS FINAL EDITION

PILL-PUSH DOC GETS OFF EASY

BYLINE: BY Helen Peterson

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 37

LENGTH: 152 words

A PARK AVENUE psychiatrist who was accused of doling out prescription drugs like candy when he was arrested last year walked away with community service yesterday.
Dr.
Ahron Friedberg, 41, pleaded guilty to a low-level misdemeanor for writing a prescription for a patient’s wife in exchange for a sentence of 1,000 hours of community service.
Friedberg had been charged with five counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance when he was arrested July 29, 2003. Authorities declined to comment on why the charges were dropped.
During his guilty plea before Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Judith Levitt, Friedberg admitted writing a prescription for an anti-depressant, Wellbutrin, for the spouse of a patient without talking to her.
Friedberg and his lawyer, Peter Chavkin, declined to comment on the case. It’s not clear whether Friedberg will lose his medical license or be sanctioned by state medical authorities.