The criminal trial of Howard K. Stern in the events connected to the death of former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith took a surprising twist Thursday. Stern, Smith’s former lover and lawyer, walked out of a Los Angeles courtroom essentially scott free. Smith’s psychiatrist, Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, received $100 in fines, a reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor charge, and one year of unsupervised probation. Stern walked out of court and immediately spoke with media – blaming the prosecution for being dishonest.
After a two month long trial and 13 days of deliberation, the jury found Stern guilty on two felony counts. Both counts involved conspiracy charges of acting fraudulently to obtain prescriptions and using false names to acquire medication for Smith. Eroshevich was similarly charged with conspiracy as well as aiding to furnish sedatives and opiates to an addict.
While this may be a good day for Stern, this sentencing is a slap in the face to the jury who spent a grueling two weeks deliberating in order to reach a fair, thoughtful verdict. Judge Robert Perry acted unusually throughout the proceedings. He claims there is not enough evidence proving Stern intended to break the law. That excuse doesn’t even work for speeders on a long stretch of rural road, it certainly shouldn’t work for a man who admitted to falsifying names in order to get his girlfriend drugs that ultimately killed her. This is truly a disappointment for justice.
Once again celebrity wrongdoers get special treatment. Numerous testimonies verified Stern’s involvement in Smith’s medical management. Smith’s bodyguard, former nannies, and G. Ben Thompson, another of Smith’s former lovers, all testified to seeing Stern bring Smith pills on separate occasions. He even had multiple prescriptions for her under his own name!
Although a layman might not be able to understand the legality of writing a prescription in another name for a celebrity, common sense tells us it’s wrong – and beyond that Stern is a practicing lawyer. If an attorney licensed under the California Bar Association believed it legal to use aliases to obtain powerful prescription medications in order to facilitate a drug addiction, what does that say about his command of his own profession?
Doctors and lawyers are in a position of trust. Our society should be able to expect that they will practice ethically, with their clients’ and patients’ best interest at heart. Unfortunately, this case could have a substantial impact on how physicians practice, especially those working with celebrities. Allowing Stern off the hook sends a message to the public that this kind of behavior is acceptable. Prescription drug abuse is a growing social problem that needs to be controlled – especially in Hollywood.
This week marked the start of a similar criminal trial to determine an involuntary manslaughter charge against Dr. Conrad Murray in the death of the late Michael Jackson. We can only hope for an outcome less discouraging than the one today.
Far too many have died from drug overdoses and it is time for those who irresponsibly dispense medication to pay for their careless actions. Whatever the motive for drug facilitation, the vicious cycle must be broken.
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