BALTIMORE — A 66-year-old man from Hanover, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone and alprazolam outside the scope of professional practive and not for legitamite medical purposes.
According to his plea agreement, William Soyke from 2011 to February 2018, Soyke served as a physician assistant at Rosen Hoffberg Rehabilitation and Pain Management and was able to observe and treat patients of both Dr. Norman Rosen and Dr. Howard Hoffberg.
Each new Rosen Hoffberg patient was initially seen by Dr. Rosen or Dr. Hoffberg, who determined the patient’s treatment plan and medication levels. Soyke would then see the patients for follow-up visits.
As a PA, Soyke had privileges to prescribe controlled substance medications but was required to operate under a delegation agreement between himself and the owners.
According to his plea, Soyke admitted that he believed that the doctors prescribed excessive levels of opioids and that they both overruled any attempts by Soyke to lower patients’ dosages.
Soyke admitted to officials that he knew that many of the patients did not have a legitimate medical need for the oxycodone, fentanyl, alprazolam, and methadone they were being prescribed.
Soyke admitted that he issued prescriptions for these drugs to patients without a legitimate medical need and outside the bounds of acceptable medical practice. Soyke also admitted that in several instances he engaged in sexual contact with female patients who were attempting to get patients. Doctors did not fire Soyke even after female patients complained about his behavior.
Soyke faces a maximum sentence of 20 years and is scheduled for sentencing on October 16.
