More info on Dr Scruggs' case.

"According to records, Scruggs' medical license was revoked in 2007 by the Medical Board of California after he allegedly set up a website in 1999 where patients were allowed to receive prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy and anabolic steroids, which are used to increase muscle mass, strength and endurance. According to disciplinary records of the medical board, 6,073 prescriptions were issued.

In his plea agreement, Scruggs admitted to distributing 250 to 1,000 vials of anabolic steroids and that in May 17, 2003, he prescribed anabolic steroid testosterone to a patient in Santa Clara County. He also admitted to asking other for help in distributing the drugs, including asking someone to transfer $3,605 from his account to China, funds that were to be used to pay for HGH.

One patient, identified as Erich M. from Florida, developed two benign tumors.

According to records that were reviewed, Erich M. contacted Scruggs through the phone and told him he wanted to increase his weight to 220 pounds from the 175 he weighed at the time. Scruggs prescribed several drugs, which the patient stopped taking after he had "unsatisfactory results."

Another patient, identified as Bruce R. of New York City, had a history of hypertension and contacted the doctor because he wanted to gain weight. Without an examination, Scruggs prescribed anabolic steroids and testosterone.

"The use of testosterone and anabolic steroids in a patient with hypertension is dangerous since they may exacerbate hypertension and cause fluid retention, as occurred in this case," according to records.

In another case, Scruggs prescribed steroids after a phone consultation even though the patient suffered from high fat levels in the blood, a practice that placed the patient at a substantial risk of cardiovascular disease, according to records."

"A Tustin doctor who counted former Angels Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis as patients has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally distribute steroids and illegally smuggle human growth hormone into the U.S., federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Dr. Ramon Scruggs, 61, also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering, admitting in his Monday plea bargain that he “distributed anabolic steroids and HGH to individuals in a manner outside the usual course of professional practice while operating his medical practice at New Hope Health Center in Costa Mesa,” according to a U.S. attorney’s office news release.

“Dr. Scruggs further admitted that he knew that such distributions were not for a legitimate medical purpose, and that they were instead for non-legitimate purposes, including performance enhancement,” the release said."

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