Health Highlights: Oct. 30, 2017

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Opioid Company Founder Charged Over Alleged Conspiracy

The founder of a U.S. opioid medication manufacturer was charged Thursday with fraud and racketeering.

John Kapoor of Insys Therapeutics was charged on the same day that President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency, the Associated Press reported.

Thousands of Americans die each year from opioid overdoses.

“In the midst of a nationwide opioid epidemic that has reached crisis proportions, Mr. Kapoor and his company stand accused of bribing doctors to overprescribe a potent opioid and committing fraud on insurance companies solely for profit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb in Boston, the AP reported.

“Today’s arrest and charges reflect our ongoing efforts to attack the opioid crisis from all angles,” he added.

The former CEO of Insys and other executives and managers also face charges. It’s alleged that they and Kapoor offered bribes to doctors to write prescriptions for the company’s fenantyl-based pain medication meant only for cancer patient with severe pain. Many of the patients who received prescriptions did not have cancer, the AP reported.

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