Nugent Pharmacy has been ordered close for violations.

The pharmacy license of Nugent Pharmacy in Caseville, also is suspended. The store is owned by Nugent.

The DCH Bureau of Health Professions orders a summary suspension when it believes that the public's health, safety and welfare warrant emergency action.

The suspensions were the result of a Huron County, Sheriff's Department investigation that was related to the possible chemical dependency/substance abuse of a patient. The investigation revealed that Nugent Pharmacy had dispensed 7,160 mg of Dilaudid (a Schedule 2 controlled substance, a narcotic analgesic is prescribed for relief of moderate to severe pain) to the patient even though Nugent admitted to knowing that the patient may have had a chemical substance/substance abuse problem.

The press release further stated, Nugent also admitted to dispensing controlled substances to the patient even though the patient did not have a prescription. Further, he admitted to contacting the patient's physician to request that he backdate prescriptions for medications that were dispensed in order to reconcile the pharmacy's records.

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has also summarily suspended the license to practice medicine of Philip J. Lafata, M.D. The MDCH Bureau of Health Professions orders a summary suspension when it believes that the public's health, safety and welfare warrant emergency action.

In a second MDCH press release, it stated on March 18, 2008 based on an investigation by the Huron County Sheriff's Department, Lafata admitted that he had been prescribing narcotics to a patient in anticipation of a sexual affair and providing prescriptions to the patient at locations other than the hospital where Lafata worked, such as Lafata's home and parking lots. Further, Lafata admitted to providing the patient with approximately $2,000 to assist her in paying for prescriptions and ultimately engaging in a sexual relationship with the patient

"He (Nugent) has two options now," he added.

"The first option is he can petition for a hearing to remove or dissolve the suspension which allows him to work while the investigation is continuing."

The second option is he can accept the charges. "The reason for the summarily suspension is either he was convicted or we felt there was an imminent threat to the public," said MDCH Director of Bureau of the Health Profession Melanie Brim.

"The store remains open but the pharmacy is closed," added Brim. "This is one reason why pharmacies are separate from the main part of the store."

On June 18, 2008, DCH issued an Order of Summary Suspension against Nugent and on June 23, 2008, DCH issued an Order of Summary Suspension and Seizure of Controlled Substances against Nugent Pharmacy pursuant to the Public Health Code. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of these licenses.

On June 18, 2008, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Lafata's medical license. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Lafata' medical doctor license, which was issued Jan. 1, 1959.

The MDCH cannot confirm if Lafata is in private practice or within a medical facility.

"We just require a physical address," said MDCH spokesman Ray Garza. "The law doesn't require more than that."