Doctor Rapped In Janet Jackson Meds Scam

A Los Angeles doctor has been formally reprimanded by California officials for fraudulently writing prescriptions in the name of an employee of Janet Jackson, when the medicine was, in fact, intended for the singer, The Smoking Gun has learned.

The Medical Board of California's probe of Dr. Allan Metzger was triggered by a 1999 lawsuit brought against Jackson by Ricardo Macchi, her ex-chef. Macchi charged that Jackson and husband Rene Elizondo used Macchi's name on a variety of embarrassing prescriptions written by Metzger and another L.A. doctor.

But while Macchi's lawsuit has foundered, his main charge was substantiated by this September 2000 disciplinary notice, which has not been previously disclosed. While the Medical Board must protect patient confidentiality, there can be little doubt that Jackson is the "international entertainer" in question.

According to pharmacy records, Metzger wrote prescriptions in Macchi's name for hepatitis B vaccine and an appetite suppressant subsequently banned by the FDA. Metzger also wrote similar bogus scrips for Retin-A and Claritin. (1 page)

Bad news: Converse, $225 million in the hole, just filed for bankruptcy. Good news: Included among the firm's top ten creditors are hoops miscreants Bobby Knight (450k) and Dennis Rodman (400k). (1 page)