A former oral surgeon has been sentenced to 24 months in prison after tampering with fentanyl while working at a dental practice in Iowa City, Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported March 30.
Andrew Hartwig practiced at Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center of Iowa City. Mr. Hartwig took fentanyl from at least 299 vials and diluted the remaining fentanyl with other liquids, according to the Des Moines Register.
When employees at the practice began to notice vials of fentanyl being tampered with, they took additional security measures, after which Mr. Hartwig contacted the Iowa Dental Board to report that he had used fentanyl from the practice to deal with chronic low-back pain, according to the Des Moines Register.
The tamperings occurred over at least a three-month span in 2019, the Des Moines Register reported.
He was charged with unprofessional or unethical conduct in 2019 after self-administering a portion of the practice's fentanyl supply. His dental license has since been indefinitely suspended by the Iowa Dental Board.
In October 2022, Mr. Hartwig was charged with a felony of tampering with consumer products. He pleaded guilty.
In addition to his 24-month prison sentence, Mr. Hartwig must also pay a $50,000 fine and serve two years of supervised release.