Illinois Dentist Sent to Prison for Stealing Patient Pain Meds

I am not the judge or the jury, but I have my own idea for what justice should be for a dentist in Illinois who was sent to prison after he confessed to stealing patient pain meds leaving them suffering during surgery.

I saw this disturbing news shared by the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois. They say a Rochester, Illinois, dentist, Phillip M. Jensen, 64, has received a prison sentence of 15 years for dastardly crimes versus his patients. They say he "started stealing fentanyl form his patients as early as December 2019" and that "staff began noticing patients who were moving, moaning, and otherwise showing signs of pain and distress during surgery".

The dentist would steal "at least half of the fentanyl in the single-use vials" which would result in numerous patients including children who said they felt everything during painful dental procedures.

The Central District of Illinois US Attorney's Office issued this statement about what Dr Jensen was found guilty of:

“This case represents the commitment of the Department of Justice, both in the Central District of Illinois and beyond, to protect and defend the public from those that would prey upon them,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “People are never as vulnerable as when they place their faith in a health care provider to not only treat their condition but to administer anesthesia and pain medicine during that treatment. Jensen abused that faith and hurt others in the process. Because of this prosecution, Jensen will not be permitted to practice medicine again and will be prevented from hurting members of our community in the future.”

Along with the 15-year prison sentence, Dr. Jensen was also ordered to pay a fine of $200,000.