A Broward doctor got fined for how he prescribed fentanyl to a drug abuser who later died
Accusations of prescribing fentanyl and codeine “inappropriately” to an opioid abuser for six months led to a Miramar doctor being fined $10,000 this month along with other punitive actions by Florida’s Board of Medicine.
Dr. Claude Romulus will not only have to pay that $10,000 fine, he’ll need to cough up $7,966 in reimbursing Florida Department of Health case costs. Along with money, Romulus will pay with time: a three-hour continuing medical education course in record keeping and three five-hour continuing medical education courses in drug prescribing; risk management; and laws, rules and ethics.
According to the Department of Health, Romulus has been licensed in Florida since Sept. 24, 2004, without previous disciplinary issues. He returned neither a phone message at his office or nor an email to the email address listed by the Department of Health.
The settlement agreement with the all of the above follows a Florida Department of Health administrative complaint concerning Romulus’ treatment of Fort Lauderdale resident Michael Pontorno from April to October of 2018. Not stated in the complaint: Pontorno died of a drug overdose on Aug. 22, 2019. He was 49.
That’s in the Broward County lawsuit filed by Pontorno’s daughter, Angelica Pontorno. Also, the death is in the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation entry after Romulus’ malpractice insurance paid $150,000 to Angelica Pontorno.
“[Michael Pontorno] died from overdose on Aug. 22, 2019, some 10 months after last seeing reporting physician and there was no active (prescription) from reporting physician,” the entry says. “[Pontorno] sought treatment with insured for chronic back problems. [Pontorno] reported no longer receiving relief from other opioids. [Romulus] placed patient on fentanyl patches.”
Also, “[Pontorno] had a protracted history of drug (including prescription) abuse history. He sought care for his condition including treatment at in-patient rehab facilities.”
Angelica Pontorno’s lawsuit says her father gave Romulus the rundown in April 2018 on his drug abuse history and that he was trying to get help in rehabilitation facilities.
The administrative complaint starts to address Romulus’ actions from April 12, 2018.
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Controlled substances in uncontrolled amounts?
Michael Pontorno first went to Romulus in October 2015 complaining of back pain. While the lawsuit says Romulus began prescribing fentanyl for Pontorno before gauging how well he could handle it or considering alternatives, the Department of Health complaint jumps to April 2018.
But, it makes the same accusation, just for a different time period.
From April 12, 2018 through Oct. 17, 2018, the complaint said, “[Romulus] prescribed controlled substances inappropriately. During the treatment period, [Romulus] prescribed fentanyl and/or codeine concurrently and without justification, or without documenting justification in the medical records.”
During this time, also, the complaint said Romulus didn’t take several basic steps taken when prescribing fentanyl and codeine:
▪ He “failed to obtain, or document obtaining, treatment records from [Pontorno’s] previous provider, to include diagnostic testing and non-opioid treatments pursued.”
▪ He didn’t — or at least didn’t keep records that he did — do a physical examination, diagnostic imaging or history of Pontorno.
▪ He “failed to do a complete mental health assessment of [Pontorno] and refer him to a psychiatrist to assess underlying secondary psychiatric issues.” Nor did he refer Pontorno to specialists for further evaluation, such as a neurosurgeon, orthopedic surgeon, or an addiction medicine specialist.”
▪ He “failed to determine, or document determining, [Pontorno’s] response to the prescribed medications.
▪ He didn’t do any urine drug screens.
▪ He “failed to review [Pontorno’s] profile in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).
▪ He “failed to develop or document developing a treatment plan for [Pontorno].”
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 8:46 AM.
