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A Doctor's Downfall
Sitting in a glass-enclosed visitors cubicle in a federal prison in San Antonio,
Ernesto Cantu's voice falls to a whisper as he wonders whether there is any
chance he will get his medical license back. His drab blue prison garb bears a
vague resemblance to a surgeon's gown, but otherwise there are few hints of his
medical past. Ever so slowly, Cantu's mouth tightens into a sad smile. "I guess
that's wishful thinking," he says, answering his own question. "But I can still
hope."
At the moment, all Cantu faces is the prospect of more time in prison. In October
2002, he pleaded guilty in two state cases for attempting to buy Demerol with a
fictitious prescription and for sexually molesting a 13-year-old girl. That same
month, he also pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to dispense
controlled substances for thepillbox.com.
He was sentenced to six years on the state charges. He is now being held in the
federal facility while awaiting sentencing for the federal charge. He faces as many
as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Road to Addiction
Cantu's own road to addiction started with the pills he said he took 20 years ago
for back pain. "I initially started with Darvocet in the '80s and around 1995 I
started using hydrocodone." In October 2000, Cantu added Demerol to the mix.
"I briefly became addicted to it."
At the time, Cantu was living with Anne Malley and her teenage daughter in a
gated community known as the Enclave.
Although Cantu's signature appeared on the prescriptions he wrote for
thepillbox.com, he allowed Malley "to represent herself as Dr. Anne Cantu and
provide the telephone consultations with patients," according to the Texas
medical board.
Cantu said Malley "did answer the phone at times and speak with patients. But
she would not prescribe any medications."
Malley's name appeared on a summary sheet of physicians prescribing drugs for
thepillbox.com, according to a 2001 affidavit prepared by a Food and Drug
Administration investigator. The affidavit states that she was paid $42,340 by the
Internet pharmacy, and used several of the checks as a down payment for a 2001
Mercedes-Benz E350 costing $54,575.
Cantu frequently wrote prescriptions for Demerol in the names of patients and
employees who had not sought the drugs, state investigators said.
The fictitious prescriptions were for the purpose of obtaining Demerol for
Respondent's girl friend, Anne Malley, and/or the Respondent himself," the Texas
medical board later stated. "There is probable cause to believe that Respondent
abused Demerol and/or that he has knowingly aided his girl friend, Anne Malley,
in abusing Demerol."
When federal agents searched Cantu and Malley's home in October 2001, they
found 96 empty vials of Demerol and syringes in the trash. "At that time," Cantu
said, "I did not feel either of us was abusing. But at that time both of us were
addicted."
Malley did not respond to repeated interview requests.
Cantu said he was taking as many as 10 tablets of hydrocodone during the day
and injecting himself with as many as 10 ampules of Demerol at night. "I didn't
use the Demerol during office hours," he said.
He insisted that his addiction did not interfere with his practice of medicine. "Just
because a person takes hydrocodone and is addicted to it doesn't mean he can't
function in a normal way," he said.
Anderson, head of the Texas medical board, wondered why the board did not
catch Cantu sooner. "What he did is shocking," Anderson said. "It is absolutely
shocking behavior, and it's totally out of control."
The board did have Cantu on its radar. In October 2000, it alleged that he
prescribed "frequent high doses of narcotics" to a patient, including numerous
painkillers. Cantu was ordered to complete at least 50 hours of continuing
medical education.
Porter, the board's former head of compliance, described the settlement as
"garbage." He said Cantu "was handing out drugs left and sideways." Porter said
he was worried that Cantu was going to repeat his mistake "and probably hurt
somebody."
License Suspended
Cantu said that on Thanksgiving 2001 he prepared a turkey and watched as
Malley's daughter and two neighborhood girlfriends roasted marshmallows in the
fireplace. He had taken Demerol, Soma (a muscle relaxant), Valium and Ambien.
He said he went to bed and blacked out. According to court records, Cantu
returned to the living room, where the girls were sleeping, and fondled a 13-year-
old neighbor. The girl raced from the house.
Cantu said he cannot recall the incident. "As to what happened, I have no idea,"
he said. "I don't remember anything else."
He was charged with indecent sexual contact with a child.
The next month, on Dec. 7, 2001, Cantu's Texas medical license was suspended.
But a week later he appeared at a local pharmacy with a prescription he had
written for himself for Demerol. An alert pharmacist contacted the DEA and Cantu
was arrested. When police searched his car, they found a .22-caliber rifle that
Cantu said he purchased at a gun show. Police said it was stolen from the
Nashville Police Department.
"It was broken," Cantu said. "Here in Texas everybody has a rifle."
Cantu hopes that he will be released soon and that he will get his license back.
Anderson said, "That is very unlikely."