Dutchess County doctor, nurse guilty in prescription scheme

A physician and a registered nurse in Dutchess County have been found guilty by a Dutchess County jury of engaging in an unauthorized medical practice that facilitated the illegal treatment of patients for five years.

Dr. Jeanine Santiago, of Wappinger, faces up to four years in prison for her role in a scheme that took advantage of elderly and homebound patients, according to the office of New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.

As part of Santiago”™s practice, called Physicians Who Make House Calls, the doctor would send a nurse to patients”™ homes with blank and signed prescriptions. The nurse, Wendy Potter, used Santiago’s prescription notes to assign medications ”“ including morphine and oxycodone ”“ to hundreds of patients between 2008 and 2013 even though she is not a physician.

In addition to three charges of unauthorized medical practice, Santiago was also found guilty on one count of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, a class E felony.

Potter, a Fishkill resident , was also found guilty of unauthorized practice of medicine.

Santiago”™s medical license will be revoked and she is banned from participating in Medicaid and Medicare programs, according to the attorney general’s office.