'Doctor Death' arrested after 36 of his patients die

A PSYCHIATRIST has been arrested over the deaths of 36 alleged patients - at least 12 of whom died of prescription overdoses.

Dr Narendra Nagareddy was being questioned by police after nearly 40 drug enforcement agents raided his office on Thursday.

The medic, who has been dubbed "Doctor Death", is accused of overprescribing medication to patients, including opiates and a type of tranquiliser.

Officers also seized assets from his home after the raid in Jonesboro, Georgia, US.

Clayton county police chief Mike Register told reporters: "He's a psychiatrist in Jonesboro who has been overprescribing opiates and benzodiazepine, and the last several years has had a multitude of overdoses and overdose deaths.

"People come to this person for help, and instead of getting help they're met with deadly consequences.

"If the allegations are true he's Doctor Death, no doubt about it."

One of Dr Nagareddy's patients was 29-year-old mum-of-two Audrey Austin, who died of a prescription drug overdose just days after she visited the medic.

Her mum Ruth Carr said: "She was an addict and he made it very easy for her."

It was reportedly Audrey's death that brought about Dr Nagareddy's arrest.

Clayton county district attorney Tracy Graham Lawson said: "He's charged with prescribing pain medication which is outside his profession as a psychiatrist and not for a legitimate purpose for the patient."

Since his licence was issued in 1999 Dr Nagareddy has received several online complaints over his prescription methods.

'Doctor Death' arrested after 36 of his patients die