“We have made it abundantly clear that we will not allow unscrupulous doctors to fuel New Jersey’s opioid crisis by indiscriminately prescribing painkillers and other narcotics that serve as gateways to addiction,” said Attorney General Porrino. “The action against Dr. Enrico demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting the public from any doctor suspected of allowing dangerous, habit-forming drugs to flow unchecked into our communities.”
“The Board’s temporary suspension of Dr. Enrico’s license is a fitting action given the serious nature of the allegations against him,” said Steve Lee, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “By ensuring that this doctor will not treat patients or write prescriptions until this matter is resolved, the Board is fulfilling its duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.”
The allegations against Enrico stem from his treatment of seven patients between 2011 and 2016. The patients – five males and two females between the ages of 33 and 61 – were all diagnosed with virtually the same conditions of the foot and lower leg.
According to the Verified Complaint, Enrico demonstrated gross negligence and endangered the welfare of his patients by:
The nine-count Complaint for the temporary suspension of Dr. Enrico’s license was filed on January 24, 2017, and scheduled for a hearing before the Board on February 8, 2017. That hearing was adjourned at Enrico’s request after he voluntarily agreed to stop practicing pending the outcome of the hearing.
The hearing was held before the Board on April 5, during which the State presented evidence that Enrico’s continued practice posed a clear and imminent danger to the public.
The Board agreed, finding the evidence showed Enrico grossly inappropriately prescribed narcotic analgesics; treated diagnoses with narcotics where they are not the accepted form of treatment; failed to adhere to most basic of principles of medication management in his CDS prescribing; and failed to justify why his patients required large amounts of narcotics for years at a time. The Board also found that Dr. Enrico’s “chronic and long-term” prescribing of medications was outside the scope of his podiatric license when he prescribed drugs such as Xanax, Lunesta and Ambien.
“No remedial measure less than the full temporary suspension of his podiatric license will suffice to protect the public interest,” the Board concluded in voting for the temporary suspension.
Enrico’s license will remain temporarily suspended pending a full hearing in the Office of Administrative Law (“OAL”) on the allegations against him and until the Board takes final action based on the OAL’s findings.
Investigators with the Enforcement Bureau within the Division of Consumer Affairs conducted the investigation.
Deputy Attorneys General Delia DeLisi and Alan Blankstein, of the Professional Boards Prosecution Section in the Division of Law, is representing the State in this matter.
Steven Bennet, Esq. of Frier Levitt, LLC, is representing Enrico in this matter.
Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.
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