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Killer in a White Coat: The True Story of New York's Deadliest Pill Pusher and the Team that Brought Him to Justice
“Charlotte Bismuth gives us a bold and cinematic true crime story about her work at the intersection of medicine and greed. Bad Medicine is a gripping memoir that toggles deftly between the personal and prosecutorial.” —Beth Macy, New York Times bestselling author of Dopesick “Bismuth has written a brilliant account of prosecuting a doctor who became a drug dealer in a white coat. She is haunted by the voices of the dead and listening closely to the voices of the living.” —Nan Goldin, artist, activist, and founder of P.A.I.N. “Bad Medicine is a taut exploration of America’s deadly battle with opioid addiction—an unnerving and inspirational firecracker of a book.” —Karen Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of The Ghosts of Eden Park For fans of Dopesick and Bad Blood, the shocking story of New York’s most infamous pill-pushing doctor, written by the prosecutor who brought him down.In 2010, a brave whistleblower alerted the police to Dr. Stan Li’s corrupt pain management clinic in Queens, New York. Li spent years supplying more than seventy patients a day with oxycodone and Xanax, trading prescriptions for cash. Emergency room doctors, psychiatrists, and desperate family members warned him that his patients were at risk of death but he would not stop. In Bad Medicine, former prosecutor Charlotte Bismuth meticulously recounts the jaw dropping details of this criminal case that would span four years, culminating in a landmark trial. As a new assistant district attorney and single mother, Bismuth worked tirelessly with her team to bring Dr. Li to justice. Bad Medicine is a chilling story of corruption and greed and an important look at the role individual doctors play in America’s opioid epidemic.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2021
54 people are currently reading
723 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Bismuth
1 book12 followersCharlotte Bismuth served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan from 2008-2015, including five years on assignment to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. A graduate of Columbia College and Sciences-Po Paris, she started her career at the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation before joining the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board. Having discovered a love for the law, Charlotte attended Columbia Law School and joined Debevoise & Plimpton LLP as a litigation associate before returning to public service. Charlotte lives in New York City with her family and books. A portion of her proceeds from the sale of "Bad Medicine" will be donated to the FedUp! Coalition and other groups.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 13, 2021
I really wanted to like this book but I had a few major problems with it:
1. While I agree that Dr. Li did horrible things and is not fit to practice medicine, I didn't like how the author extended that righteousness to apply to being a prosecutor writ large. White supremacy is entrenched in the American criminal-legal system, and given this book's focus on illicit drugs, it is baffling that the author never once attempts to reckon with the role of prosecutors in perpetuating structural racism through the War on Drugs. Her frequent depictions of the American Prosecutor as a noble crusader for justice are very hard to take, even if she happened to be in the right for the individual case this book focuses on.
2. The opioid epidemic was not solely caused by individual doctors, and while I think the author understands this, this book at times seems like it is placing too much of the blame on doctors. Perhaps a discussion of the role of pharmaceutical companies, the American government, and capitalism itself would fall outside the scope of this already-detailed book, but casual readers of this book could walk away too focused on the actions of individual doctors as opposed to placing them within the larger context they operated in.
3. Maybe I'm just mean, but I didn't care much for the interludes about the author's personal life. It was hard to care about the personal struggles of a cog in what I view as a racist, oppressive machine (again, even though I think she was in the right for this particular case).
4. The way the coverage of the case jumps around in time got a little confusing.
With all that being said, I did appreciate the way the author told the stories of the people struggling with substance use disorders who were victimized by Dr. Li. Anything that helps the general public move towards understanding addiction as a chronic medical condition, as opposed to a moral failing, is a step in the right direction.
1. While I agree that Dr. Li did horrible things and is not fit to practice medicine, I didn't like how the author extended that righteousness to apply to being a prosecutor writ large. White supremacy is entrenched in the American criminal-legal system, and given this book's focus on illicit drugs, it is baffling that the author never once attempts to reckon with the role of prosecutors in perpetuating structural racism through the War on Drugs. Her frequent depictions of the American Prosecutor as a noble crusader for justice are very hard to take, even if she happened to be in the right for the individual case this book focuses on.
2. The opioid epidemic was not solely caused by individual doctors, and while I think the author understands this, this book at times seems like it is placing too much of the blame on doctors. Perhaps a discussion of the role of pharmaceutical companies, the American government, and capitalism itself would fall outside the scope of this already-detailed book, but casual readers of this book could walk away too focused on the actions of individual doctors as opposed to placing them within the larger context they operated in.
3. Maybe I'm just mean, but I didn't care much for the interludes about the author's personal life. It was hard to care about the personal struggles of a cog in what I view as a racist, oppressive machine (again, even though I think she was in the right for this particular case).
4. The way the coverage of the case jumps around in time got a little confusing.
With all that being said, I did appreciate the way the author told the stories of the people struggling with substance use disorders who were victimized by Dr. Li. Anything that helps the general public move towards understanding addiction as a chronic medical condition, as opposed to a moral failing, is a step in the right direction.
December 2, 2020
This was an eye opener. It does jump around a bit as you follow the lady prosecutor, Charlotte Bismuth, as she preps for trial. She’s trying to put away this prolific prescription writing doctor, and try to figure out how many of his patients he has killed with his pad and pen already. Doctor Stan Xuhu Li has made a ton of money catering to addicts, and making addicts out of people who weren’t before. It’s all about the opioids, and Dr. Stan Li was right there in the thick of it, doing his share of the dirt, on weekends at least. During the week, he was a mild mannered, board certified anesthesiologist at a teaching hospital in New Jersey. I found this book to be just the kind I like to read, and enjoyed it quite a lot. There were however, a lot of statistics and details when talking about the trial that some may find a bit dry, and there are some places where it drags a bit, but not for long. Overall, a very good read. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Charlotte Bismuth, and the publisher.
June 9, 2021
Interesting book about a specific doctors role in the opioid epidemic. It is heartbreaking and disgusting to see a medical professional who people are putting their faith in to help them, take advantage of their position and monetize addiction in the way this doctor did. This book jumps around a lot, which I have heard prevented many people from enjoying it however, I found that it made the book much more readable. There is so much detail and statistics in this book, that the personal character stories inserted throughout it helped give my mind a bit of a break to process the more detailed sections in smaller doses.
Not sure if it is the best book to read on the opioid epidemic overall as it does focus on a very narrow area of it, but still a very interesting read.
Not sure if it is the best book to read on the opioid epidemic overall as it does focus on a very narrow area of it, but still a very interesting read.
January 15, 2021
This was not a firecracker of a book nor a page-turning true detective story. Well, it was a true story. That part was correct. As for the rest, the book doesn't live up to that hype. It does tell an incredibly detailed account of how a doctor was brought to trial for overprescribing opioids and other medications and committing Medicare fraud. I was really surprised how shocked the author was about either of these situations. Both seem to be in the news with much frequency. Perhaps it wasn't as well publicized when she began prosecuting this case? How long have I needed to show ID to buy over the counter Sudafed? The book at its foundation was well written and interesting. But, I struggled with the continually bouncing timelines. That made it difficult to connect the pieces. The other thing that was a draw back for me was the inclusion of Ms. Bismuth's personal life. At first I couldn't decide if it was there to provide a mental break from all the medical and legal talk or if it was just distracting. By the end of the book I determined it was the later. These intrusions kept the book from being the taut drama promised.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
October 9, 2021
This was an intense and horrifying read about the dark side of medical care and that you can't always trust that the doctor cares about your health, terrifying thoughts on its own. Very readable and easy to get invested in, would most likely read something else by Charlotte Bismuth.
February 14, 2021
Before I start my review, I want to say I am sorry to NetGalley and the publisher and author for my delayed review. I downloaded it on my kindle early and then for some odd reason it didn’t show up until I reloaded it. That being said this was a very different read for me. I always enjoy a good edge of your seat true crime, but I sadly had a tough time getting into this book. Now I will say that I felt that the case was presented well and that by the end of the book I hated Dr. Li. Not only did I hate him I was thrilled with the sentence he received for his part in the deaths of the people in the story and also in his part for making things so much worse for the opioid crisis. What I enjoyed about this book is the passion for getting the conviction that every member of that team had. While the legal system isn’t perfect it was refreshing to see a group of people put everything they had into something to get the desired outcome.
On the other side of the coin, however, is what I didn’t enjoy. I had a very hard time keeping up with the chapter transitions and headings. Unlike many of my fellow reviewers, however, I did not mind the bits and pieces that were included about the author's life. It gave me the reader a chance to process some of the harder parts I had read while I received a better understanding of the life that the author was trying to lead while trying to put an evil man behind bars. I was actually surprised by some of this read it was very well explained. My only downfall and why it’s getting a three-star rating from me is because the headings with how many days before and after the trial made things confusing where I found there were parts I had to go back and reread.
January 21, 2024
I just did not enjoy the form of this book at all. The content is somewhat interesting but the writing does not stand on its own. It’s either utilitarian to a fault or overly lyrical when attempting to be emotional. There are sections entirely dedicated to the authors personal life, which I skipped completely. In my opinion this should have been cut. This lawyer is not famous enough or interesting enough to interest herself so fully into the telling of this story. This book also jumps around in time far too much. It’s a very confusing structure and I think this story would have been improved if it had just been told in chronological order.
February 12, 2021
It is disheartening to think that a person entrusted with healing could be convicted for hurting, even killing, patients. But Charlotte Bismuth writes of her journey with her team to prosecute Dr. Stan Li for just that crime. Researching, interviewing, and planning --all that background stuff-- for trial took a few years. A sixteen-week trial transpired, then conviction, sentencing ... What could have been simply a long, boring chronology of events instead became more of a mystery read: Ms. Bismuth jumped about a bit in her presentation of chapters, clearly dating and stating their relevance to the trial. That writing method keeps the reader interested and enlightens us about victims of Dr. Li's sideline business of prescribing controlled substances. Interspersed, too, are elements of Charlotte Bismuth's personal life, allowing readers to meet the person who shared her experience of bringing to justice the man who violated the maxim, "first, do no harm".
January 20, 2021
This book takes you behind the curtain of the difficulties of shutting down/prosecuting a pill mill doctor while also humanizing some of the victims who are not just numbers to the author. Charlotte Bismuth sucks you in with a great start and keeps you interested with her well timed side bars and an intimate personal story that few would be brave enough to tell.
April 9, 2021
This book was an awesome balance between learning more about a prosecutor's experiences and life as well as the opioid challenge in the US. I learned and gained new insight into a doctor's responsibilities. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in hearing the deeper story behind the medical field, pharmaceutical companies, and patients with pain and addiction.
January 14, 2021
I couldn't put this book down. Ever more relevant, Bad Medicine takes you to the front lines of the opioid crisis. Bravo, Ms. Bismuth.
February 11, 2021
All Aspiring Lawyers Should Read This Book
Please visit I. David's blog at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Bad Medicine: Catching New York’s Deadliest Pill Pusher, by author Charlotte Bismuth, is the powerful story of the investigation and trial of Stan Xuhui Li, a doctor accused of using his pain management clinic as a front for an illegal opioid dispensary. Ms. Bismuth knows of what she speaks. She was an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York who worked on the case from beginning to end.
Ms. Bismuth’s book is a horrifying depiction of the members of the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession who line their pockets at the expense of patients to whom they recklessly prescribe opiates. However, through her description of the investigation and the trial, she also provides a vivid description of what it is really like to work as a lawyer.
When I was considering law school in the 1970s I was encouraged to read Gideon’s Trumpet by Anthony Lewis, a book describing the path to the Supreme Court’s decision that the Constitution guarantees the right to legal counsel. In the 1990s prospective lawyers were encouraged to read A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr, a book that describes how a lawyer from a small firm fought against two large corporations to prove that they polluted the water supply in Woburn, Massachusetts. These are both inspirational books that describe how the law can operate for the benefit the everyday Americans. But neither of these books describes the day-to-day, hour-by-hour experience of what it is really like to be a lawyer.
In contrast, Ms. Bismuth brutally describes it all, including:
• The pressure of knowing that your clients or employer are relying on you to achieve something that is extremely important to them;
• The stress of knowing that, if you make a mistake, in could have an adverse impact on many people;
• The grind of going through thousands and thousands of documents in the hope that you will find some piece of evidence that supports your client’s case;
• The suppression of a scream while opposing counsel does his job by distorting your clear understanding of the facts so that they support a position advantageous to his client; and
• The anxiety of knowing that your personal life is suffering while you are distracted by your current assignment.
But, most of all, Ms. Bismuth makes it clear that the life of a lawyer is all about confrontation and conflict. This is true whether a lawyer is involved in litigation or in a simple contract negotiation. Ms. Bismuth is very open about her own anxieties and is not all that comfortable with her career choice. She says that she spent her entire life avoiding conflicts and that the practice of law feels like aversion therapy. She stands in stark contrast to the other, more senior, ADA on the case, Peter Kougasian, who has been litigating for 35 years and seems to take everything in stride.
As I was reading the book I could not help thinking that, if Ms. Bismuth had read this book before going into the profession, she would have chosen some other line of work. And I was right. When the case was over she left litigation and took a position in the office as a trainer of young ADAs. She then left the field altogether to try to become a writer. And based on the quality of this Bad Medicine I suspect that she can look forward to a successful future.
Many young people go into the law because they earned good grades in undergraduate school and do not see any other alternatives. However, they should welcome the opportunity to learn what it is really like to practice law before spending three years in law school and finding out on the job. Bad Medicine is a book that gives them that opportunity. If they see themselves in Peter Kougasian they will enthusiastically embrace their career choice. But if they see themselves in Charlotte Bismuth they may want to consider another line of work.
I give this book 5 stars both for its indictment of certain members of the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession and for its true life depiction of the life of an attorney.
Please visit I. David's blog at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Bad Medicine: Catching New York’s Deadliest Pill Pusher, by author Charlotte Bismuth, is the powerful story of the investigation and trial of Stan Xuhui Li, a doctor accused of using his pain management clinic as a front for an illegal opioid dispensary. Ms. Bismuth knows of what she speaks. She was an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York who worked on the case from beginning to end.
Ms. Bismuth’s book is a horrifying depiction of the members of the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession who line their pockets at the expense of patients to whom they recklessly prescribe opiates. However, through her description of the investigation and the trial, she also provides a vivid description of what it is really like to work as a lawyer.
When I was considering law school in the 1970s I was encouraged to read Gideon’s Trumpet by Anthony Lewis, a book describing the path to the Supreme Court’s decision that the Constitution guarantees the right to legal counsel. In the 1990s prospective lawyers were encouraged to read A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr, a book that describes how a lawyer from a small firm fought against two large corporations to prove that they polluted the water supply in Woburn, Massachusetts. These are both inspirational books that describe how the law can operate for the benefit the everyday Americans. But neither of these books describes the day-to-day, hour-by-hour experience of what it is really like to be a lawyer.
In contrast, Ms. Bismuth brutally describes it all, including:
• The pressure of knowing that your clients or employer are relying on you to achieve something that is extremely important to them;
• The stress of knowing that, if you make a mistake, in could have an adverse impact on many people;
• The grind of going through thousands and thousands of documents in the hope that you will find some piece of evidence that supports your client’s case;
• The suppression of a scream while opposing counsel does his job by distorting your clear understanding of the facts so that they support a position advantageous to his client; and
• The anxiety of knowing that your personal life is suffering while you are distracted by your current assignment.
But, most of all, Ms. Bismuth makes it clear that the life of a lawyer is all about confrontation and conflict. This is true whether a lawyer is involved in litigation or in a simple contract negotiation. Ms. Bismuth is very open about her own anxieties and is not all that comfortable with her career choice. She says that she spent her entire life avoiding conflicts and that the practice of law feels like aversion therapy. She stands in stark contrast to the other, more senior, ADA on the case, Peter Kougasian, who has been litigating for 35 years and seems to take everything in stride.
As I was reading the book I could not help thinking that, if Ms. Bismuth had read this book before going into the profession, she would have chosen some other line of work. And I was right. When the case was over she left litigation and took a position in the office as a trainer of young ADAs. She then left the field altogether to try to become a writer. And based on the quality of this Bad Medicine I suspect that she can look forward to a successful future.
Many young people go into the law because they earned good grades in undergraduate school and do not see any other alternatives. However, they should welcome the opportunity to learn what it is really like to practice law before spending three years in law school and finding out on the job. Bad Medicine is a book that gives them that opportunity. If they see themselves in Peter Kougasian they will enthusiastically embrace their career choice. But if they see themselves in Charlotte Bismuth they may want to consider another line of work.
I give this book 5 stars both for its indictment of certain members of the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession and for its true life depiction of the life of an attorney.
October 20, 2024
Thank you to Atria Books for the finished copy and to Simon Audio for the ALC to review.
I have read a few books on the opioid crisis, mostly about the Sackler family, but this was an interesting viewpoint on what it took to go after one of the actual doctors that was recklessly keeping patients addicted to them, with seemingly no regard to their condition or state of mind. In Killer In A White Coat, Charlotte Bismuth is one of the prosecutors that brought down Dr. Stan Li, and she goes through not only the process that they went through to do so, but also the toll it took on her, her colleagues, and her family. The audio was absolutely the way to read this, and overall I was riveted by this horrific story, and listened in a couple of sittings as I was fascinated by the process, and shocked by how negligent this doctor was with his patients, even when family members would plead for help. There is a point in here where one patient suggested adding Adderall to her mix and he did not know what it was, spelled it wrong when looking it up, could not find it but prescribed it anyway. Mind you she was taking a whole host of other things. I was floored.
I highly recommend this one, it is an important read in my opinion, and like Bad Blood (one of my favorite nonfiction books), reads like a thriller so you will flip through this one wanting to know exactly how it ends.
I have read a few books on the opioid crisis, mostly about the Sackler family, but this was an interesting viewpoint on what it took to go after one of the actual doctors that was recklessly keeping patients addicted to them, with seemingly no regard to their condition or state of mind. In Killer In A White Coat, Charlotte Bismuth is one of the prosecutors that brought down Dr. Stan Li, and she goes through not only the process that they went through to do so, but also the toll it took on her, her colleagues, and her family. The audio was absolutely the way to read this, and overall I was riveted by this horrific story, and listened in a couple of sittings as I was fascinated by the process, and shocked by how negligent this doctor was with his patients, even when family members would plead for help. There is a point in here where one patient suggested adding Adderall to her mix and he did not know what it was, spelled it wrong when looking it up, could not find it but prescribed it anyway. Mind you she was taking a whole host of other things. I was floored.
I highly recommend this one, it is an important read in my opinion, and like Bad Blood (one of my favorite nonfiction books), reads like a thriller so you will flip through this one wanting to know exactly how it ends.
August 11, 2025
So impactful. I adored the personal stories about the author and the families involved in the trial. I did find myself skimming through pages of long legal jargon, but I understand why that was included. Definitely recommend to anyone going into healthcare!
May 18, 2021
I’ll review this after some thought (long walks)—- but I have to say, after reading about Bottle or Lies, and having watched The Pharmacist on Netflix, and an article on how, in the end, the Purdue empire was not truly punished or affected with regards to their net wealth—
I’m super nauseated that this guy just felt like monetizing vulnerability and addiction... being evil enough for recognizing addiction and capitalizing on that—- just sickening for me. Shame on him!
There is no sanctity to human life, there *is* an issue of class divide and I’m happy for this author, sad for brilliant, perhaps difficult for-counsel Peter’s ALS, and very happy for the foreman and his new family.
But how I consider my fellow Chinese brother, and his wife.. I’m just shaking my head. Proud to the end, utterly unable to take accountability for anything. In his broken English, he insisted to the end that he was not culpable.
Will share more later
I’m super nauseated that this guy just felt like monetizing vulnerability and addiction... being evil enough for recognizing addiction and capitalizing on that—- just sickening for me. Shame on him!
There is no sanctity to human life, there *is* an issue of class divide and I’m happy for this author, sad for brilliant, perhaps difficult for-counsel Peter’s ALS, and very happy for the foreman and his new family.
But how I consider my fellow Chinese brother, and his wife.. I’m just shaking my head. Proud to the end, utterly unable to take accountability for anything. In his broken English, he insisted to the end that he was not culpable.
Will share more later
March 13, 2021
I’m a true crime buff, and one of my recent favorites was Bad Blood, John Carreyrou's exhaustive tale of Elizabeth Holmes and her scam company Theranos, so I expected to like Bad Medicine by Charlotte Bismuth, which I received from Atria/One Signal Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Subtitled "Catching New York's Deadliest Pill Pusher," it’s a crime tale set in 2010, and tells the story of Queens, NY doctor Stan Li,. He ran a very creepy corrupt and criminal pain management clinic in Queens, NY. with his big products being Oxycodone and Xanax,. He freely sold prescriptions for cash, and although Dr. Li was repeatedly warned by various physicians that his patients were at risk of death, he just kept on.
The author of Bad Medicine, Charlotte Bismuth, was a young assistant DA and single mother when she took on the prosecution of Dr. Li. With the current opioid epidemic, the abuse of prescription medicine is pervasive. This book shows the extent to which it has been going on for many years. I thought this book was very well done, documenting the incredible efforts put in to bring Dr. Li to justice. Personally, I prefer my true crime to focus on the crime, the people fighting for justice, and the victims, rather than the author’s personal story. But that’s just me. It’s a good book. Four stars.
The author of Bad Medicine, Charlotte Bismuth, was a young assistant DA and single mother when she took on the prosecution of Dr. Li. With the current opioid epidemic, the abuse of prescription medicine is pervasive. This book shows the extent to which it has been going on for many years. I thought this book was very well done, documenting the incredible efforts put in to bring Dr. Li to justice. Personally, I prefer my true crime to focus on the crime, the people fighting for justice, and the victims, rather than the author’s personal story. But that’s just me. It’s a good book. Four stars.
May 9, 2021
Bad Medicine by Charlotte Bismuth details the case of Dr. Li who was a pill pusher. It is disheartening that a physician of that high caliber and perseverance succumbed to the power of greed and totally disregarded the conditions of his patients. It is so appalled to me that he traded money for opioid prescription granted this was early in the opioid epidemic. However, I believe that a physician's responsibility is to be up to dated with new scientific evidence and do no harm. The book does a great job giving details about the cases including initial stages and behind the scene of a high profile case. I got to learn a lot about the victim's circumstances. However, I found it is distracting to read about Charlotte's personal life in between pages about the case and the bouncing of the timeline. Because I like the succinct real crime report type of book, I find this book draining and including so many unnecessary details about the prosecutor's personal life that was not relevant to the main focus which is Dr. Li's case. Granted this is "a memoir from the trenches" so it is understandable that she included snapshots of her life.
February 15, 2021
Absolutely engrossing. This book reads like a novel, but the suspense is anything but fictional. Lawyers will find it spot on in its descriptions of courtroom scenes and procedure, and lay readers will find an eye opening account of the risks of bad medical care and associated addiction. It's a must read for doctors, lawyers and anyone seeking the advice of a physician or just in need of a good read.
August 13, 2024
If I had to put Bad medicine in one sentence of how good it is, I would say it is the most brilliant book and the most thought out and well put together book I've ever read.
It's taking me so many years to finish this, and I'm glad that I finally finished it and reached the end because this book has been haunting me for years now.
If you want to read this book, please be careful because it is heartbreaking.
I don't know how many times I've cried reading this book and, just be careful with it.
Charlotte Bismuth, I want to say thank you for writing this and thank you for giving me the knowledge of knowing that these people exist.
I pray that they've all found peace and, I pray that they all found God in their last days, and I pray that everyone stays safe out there.
Thank you for taking your time to read my review.
It's taking me so many years to finish this, and I'm glad that I finally finished it and reached the end because this book has been haunting me for years now.
If you want to read this book, please be careful because it is heartbreaking.
I don't know how many times I've cried reading this book and, just be careful with it.
Charlotte Bismuth, I want to say thank you for writing this and thank you for giving me the knowledge of knowing that these people exist.
I pray that they've all found peace and, I pray that they all found God in their last days, and I pray that everyone stays safe out there.
Thank you for taking your time to read my review.
August 3, 2021
Overall I really enjoyed this book. However, story jumps all over the place which makes it challenging to follow the timeline and individual experiences. I’m a provider myself so the medical side was easy to follow. Perhaps other attorneys or prosecutors would follow the timeline better.
Previous reviews have questioned the relevance of the author including her personal life in her recounting of this case. Personally, I think it was a great addition as it shows the difficulty an attorney experiences during such an important and challenging case.
It is depressing to read the profound consequences of bad prescribers, big pharma, the difficulty in squashing pill mills, illicit drugs, and the opioid epidemic. But it important for these stories to be told.
Previous reviews have questioned the relevance of the author including her personal life in her recounting of this case. Personally, I think it was a great addition as it shows the difficulty an attorney experiences during such an important and challenging case.
It is depressing to read the profound consequences of bad prescribers, big pharma, the difficulty in squashing pill mills, illicit drugs, and the opioid epidemic. But it important for these stories to be told.
January 30, 2021
This book was incredible, and it meant a lot to me. In 2012, I had been addicted to prescription opioids for nearly a decade, I was the father of a 2-year-old son, my life was a mess, and I had a 10% chance of living. I've been clean for over 8 years, but I've met thousands of addicts trying to get clean, and I've known nearly 100 people who have died from overdoses. Due to my personal experience, I'm an advocate against the pushing of pills by doctors and pharmaceutical companies, and sometimes it feels like this problem isn't addressed, but this book from Charlotte Bismuth gives me hope.
Charlotte was a prosecutor who helped bring down Dr. Stan Li, a man who ran a pill mill that took the lives of multiple people due to his negligence. We often downplay or forget the role that trusted doctors play in the opioid epidemic, but through Charlotte's masterful writing, we get a full view of how this happens and the families it affects. While reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing of a storyteller and writer Charlotte is. Not only do you learn about the opioid epidemic and this specific case, but she does a great job explaining the law while also sharing her personal journey during this chapter of her life. I can't put into words how great this book was, and I really hope it gets the credit and recognition that it deserves.
Charlotte was a prosecutor who helped bring down Dr. Stan Li, a man who ran a pill mill that took the lives of multiple people due to his negligence. We often downplay or forget the role that trusted doctors play in the opioid epidemic, but through Charlotte's masterful writing, we get a full view of how this happens and the families it affects. While reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing of a storyteller and writer Charlotte is. Not only do you learn about the opioid epidemic and this specific case, but she does a great job explaining the law while also sharing her personal journey during this chapter of her life. I can't put into words how great this book was, and I really hope it gets the credit and recognition that it deserves.
December 23, 2020
Excellent breakdown of a trial against DR. Li. A dr. whom prescribed opioids in very high strength,, large numbers of pills at a time and while doing so , operated a scheme wherein Insurance was billed as well as patients paying cash ( not copays )
Ultimately a number of patients were treated even as they, their families, or other medical doctors informed Dr. Li of overdoses and even suicide attempts....many died of overdoses.
It took more than 4 years of investigation and more than 8 weeks of trial but ultimately Dr. Li was convicted of more than 200 counts against him.
A well written book by one of the lawyers on the prosecution side .
Ultimately a number of patients were treated even as they, their families, or other medical doctors informed Dr. Li of overdoses and even suicide attempts....many died of overdoses.
It took more than 4 years of investigation and more than 8 weeks of trial but ultimately Dr. Li was convicted of more than 200 counts against him.
A well written book by one of the lawyers on the prosecution side .
February 7, 2021
3.5 out of 5 stars
January 30, 2021
Interesting read about the opioid epidemic and the search for justice and keeping doctors accountable for their part in the epidemic. I enjoyed most of the book. At times I found the personal details of the authors life distracting. Also, the book jumped around a lot which took a while to get use to. In general great book and I’m excited to read more from Charlotte Bismuth.
March 13, 2021
In 2010, a whistle blower informed the police about a corrupt pain management clinic in NY where Dr. Li was selling prescriptions for opioids and tranquilizer's. Seeing up to 100 patients a day, and ignoring warnings from other doctors and from patients' family members about addiction and possible death, Dr. Li continued his corrupt practice. Former ADA Charlotte Bismuth recounts the details of the criminal prosecution which took four years to resolve, ending in a landmark trial. During the trial, as a newly divorced single mother of two, arguing about custody schedules and struggling with childcare, Bismuth was nevertheless determined to see the case through for the sake of the victims and their families. A look at the roll personal, as well as corporate, greed plays in the opioid crisis.
January 26, 2021
3 1/2 stars. This was so unnerving and anxiety provoking. A real life horror story.
November 30, 2020
Most people would hope that a doctor would prescribe medication that would give you relief, but that was not the case with Dr. Stan Li in Queens, New York,
Dr. Li worked under the guise of a pain clinic where he saw an average of 70 patients a day. There would be little patient/doctor interaction and often no examination. Dr. Li would be paid in cash, which went straight into his pocket, for writing prescriptions for opioids. He was basically a drug dealer.
Former prosecutor Charlotte Bismuth was given the case to take to trial as many parents of Dr. Li's patients had legitimate concerns. The book takes us through her obtaining the evidence and then bringing the doctor to trial. Although reading pages of trial narrative can become boring at times, the book was interspersed with the author's personal life which made for interesting reading.
I thank the publishers and author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Dr. Li worked under the guise of a pain clinic where he saw an average of 70 patients a day. There would be little patient/doctor interaction and often no examination. Dr. Li would be paid in cash, which went straight into his pocket, for writing prescriptions for opioids. He was basically a drug dealer.
Former prosecutor Charlotte Bismuth was given the case to take to trial as many parents of Dr. Li's patients had legitimate concerns. The book takes us through her obtaining the evidence and then bringing the doctor to trial. Although reading pages of trial narrative can become boring at times, the book was interspersed with the author's personal life which made for interesting reading.
I thank the publishers and author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 13, 2021
Could not put this book down!!! Read it in one day! Tragic and sad but very well written. Very well told account of the trial and accounts of everyone involved.
November 24, 2020
Bad Medicine is an infuriating and intriguing book about Dr. Li’s predatory medical practices. In fact, I was furious with him after just a couple of pages. It’s also about the author, though, and her struggles with depression and sexism. Some of her story was a bit too off topic for my tastes, but most of it was very well stated. For example, when she had to get Botox for the area between her eyebrows and how that changed people’s perceptions of her for the case. And, of course, none of the men involved had to do the same.
Overall, this first book has a couple of pacing issues, but it’s still very much worth reading. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
Overall, this first book has a couple of pacing issues, but it’s still very much worth reading. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
September 16, 2021
"Bad Medicine: Catching New York's Deadliest Pill Pusher" by Charlotte Bismuth was a tough book for me to read, I'd put it off for a long time and even then I was hesitant to open it and get started. It became a part of my ongoing therapy to be able to sit down and read/listen to it. I chose the audible version because reading the words myself would have been too much, I thought. You see the book is all about a "Pill Pusher" a legal drug dealer, an MD who was arrested and charged with homicide after two of his patients died after taking the drugs he overprescribed from the "Pill Mill" he ran in New York City.
I know what these patients went through prior to their death, in fact I've been in this exact situation and struggled with an opioid addiction for over 20 years. Like most of the patients Bismuth highlights in the book, I wasn't looking to get high I was hoping to relieve the endless and severe pain I was living with after an accident that broke my neck and back! The vulnerability you, as the patient find yourself in and the willingness to do whatever and I mean whatever to stop the pain is what drives these Dr. Deaths to do what they do. I always had a valid prescription and never thought of myself as a drug addict, hell I wasn't meeting strangers on the street corner or in a dark alley, but I had over 10 doctors and 8 pharmacies that I "worked" to get the amount of pills I needed. This was in the 80's and 90's when insurance wasn't paying attention and doing all this was easy. I believe it's no longer possible to play the game as I did, which is a good thing. I don't know why I'm still breathing and living my life, I really shouldn't be after several attempts on my own life and the accidental overdoses that didn't take me. I'm one of the lucky ones, but reading this book brought back so many memories of those I got to know through my experiences that are no longer here!
Dr. Stan Li an anesthesiologist and pain management doctor is a "Pill Pusher" in New York City and with the help of a whistleblower he's been investigated and arrested. The book follows the investigation and trial of this monster. He would write the prescription and put the $150 cash he charged each patient into his pocket, then bill Medicare. No matter how many pills or prescriptions he gave someone he always gave them more, if they could pay. These "Pill Mills" are very common and if you're a chronic pain sufferer you've most likely been to one. I ended up at one purely by mistake, since I had good insurance I didn't need to go to one of these places, but when trying to find a new pain management doctor in a new town I was directed to one of these house of horrors and instantly knew I was not where I belonged, but if you don't have insurance you don't have many choices and like I said you'll do whatever it takes to stop the pain.
The book digs deep into the backgrounds of some of these patients and how normal everyday people are taken advantage of by these doctors and the trial transcripts and documents are fascinating. I found the book heartbreaking, but I'm coming from a very different perspective than many. What the author does is highlight a constant and growing problem in the States, not only with the opioid crisis, but with the people we trust to treat us and how some are using those most vulnerable to make an extra dollar. This is the story of just one of these docs, but even with all he did to harm others had it not been for a single brave whistleblower this monster would most likely still be killing today. The whole US war on drugs and how it handles the opioid crisis infuriates me, but that's for another day.
I'm glad I finally got to this book. It was hard to listen to and it did bring back some tough memories, but it also highlighted the need to continue my fight for safe and adequate pain relief for chronic pain sufferers. I am a Pain Warrior and still live in constant, unrelenting, severe pain, but I now manage it with an implanted pain pump that my team of amazing pain mgmt. doctors monitor and fill regularly. I have no control anymore on how much I get or when I get it, it's all regulated for me. I only wish this were an option for everyone who suffers! The book is shocking and if you've never experienced having to use opiates or living in pain, this is a great wake up call to how pure greed has taken over sound, quality medical care, how the opioid manufacturers have made billions off the lives off the most vulnerable and what happens when a system fails the innocent. Happy Reading!
I know what these patients went through prior to their death, in fact I've been in this exact situation and struggled with an opioid addiction for over 20 years. Like most of the patients Bismuth highlights in the book, I wasn't looking to get high I was hoping to relieve the endless and severe pain I was living with after an accident that broke my neck and back! The vulnerability you, as the patient find yourself in and the willingness to do whatever and I mean whatever to stop the pain is what drives these Dr. Deaths to do what they do. I always had a valid prescription and never thought of myself as a drug addict, hell I wasn't meeting strangers on the street corner or in a dark alley, but I had over 10 doctors and 8 pharmacies that I "worked" to get the amount of pills I needed. This was in the 80's and 90's when insurance wasn't paying attention and doing all this was easy. I believe it's no longer possible to play the game as I did, which is a good thing. I don't know why I'm still breathing and living my life, I really shouldn't be after several attempts on my own life and the accidental overdoses that didn't take me. I'm one of the lucky ones, but reading this book brought back so many memories of those I got to know through my experiences that are no longer here!
Dr. Stan Li an anesthesiologist and pain management doctor is a "Pill Pusher" in New York City and with the help of a whistleblower he's been investigated and arrested. The book follows the investigation and trial of this monster. He would write the prescription and put the $150 cash he charged each patient into his pocket, then bill Medicare. No matter how many pills or prescriptions he gave someone he always gave them more, if they could pay. These "Pill Mills" are very common and if you're a chronic pain sufferer you've most likely been to one. I ended up at one purely by mistake, since I had good insurance I didn't need to go to one of these places, but when trying to find a new pain management doctor in a new town I was directed to one of these house of horrors and instantly knew I was not where I belonged, but if you don't have insurance you don't have many choices and like I said you'll do whatever it takes to stop the pain.
The book digs deep into the backgrounds of some of these patients and how normal everyday people are taken advantage of by these doctors and the trial transcripts and documents are fascinating. I found the book heartbreaking, but I'm coming from a very different perspective than many. What the author does is highlight a constant and growing problem in the States, not only with the opioid crisis, but with the people we trust to treat us and how some are using those most vulnerable to make an extra dollar. This is the story of just one of these docs, but even with all he did to harm others had it not been for a single brave whistleblower this monster would most likely still be killing today. The whole US war on drugs and how it handles the opioid crisis infuriates me, but that's for another day.
I'm glad I finally got to this book. It was hard to listen to and it did bring back some tough memories, but it also highlighted the need to continue my fight for safe and adequate pain relief for chronic pain sufferers. I am a Pain Warrior and still live in constant, unrelenting, severe pain, but I now manage it with an implanted pain pump that my team of amazing pain mgmt. doctors monitor and fill regularly. I have no control anymore on how much I get or when I get it, it's all regulated for me. I only wish this were an option for everyone who suffers! The book is shocking and if you've never experienced having to use opiates or living in pain, this is a great wake up call to how pure greed has taken over sound, quality medical care, how the opioid manufacturers have made billions off the lives off the most vulnerable and what happens when a system fails the innocent. Happy Reading!
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