California pain doctor duped by dog X-ray in sting

[July 14, 2012]  GLENDORA, Calif. (AP) -- Investigators say a Southern California doctor saw enough from an X-ray to prescribe pain killers to an undercover cop but missed the tail showing it was an image of a dog.

Police and Los Angeles County deputies on Thursday raided the Glendora urgent care clinic of 69-year-old Dr. Rolando Lodevico Atiga after a two-month investigation that included three undercover deputies posing as patients.

One of the undercover deputies showed Atiga an X-ray to prove she needed pain killers. The scan of her German shepherd clearly shows the dog's tail.

The Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/Nqk2NA) reports Atiga examined the X-ray and asked if she wanted Vicodin, oxycodone, Valium or Xanax.

Glendora police Capt. Timothy Staab says Atiga is well known among drug addicts and was considered the doctor to go to.

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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/

[Associated Press]

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