The Truth of Temponeras

Now that the smokescreen that has veiled a toxic business in Wheelersburg, Ohio has lifted, I sincerely hope all the pertinent facts come to light. The public deserves the naked truth. Simply put, people are entitled to know the evidence - nothing more and nothing less.

Let the materiality of the investigations speak for itself. But, now, it is imperative that Scioto County, Appalachia, and the the rest of the United States have knowledge of Margy Temponeras M.D. who, according to U.S. DEA Special Agent in Charge, Robert L. Corso, is "one of the largest dispensers of controlled substances in the United States."

The Hippocratic Oath is one of the oldest binding documents in history. Written in antiquity, its principles are held sacred by doctors to this day: treat the sick to the best of one's ability, preserve patient privacy, teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation, and so on. The American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics (1996 edition) states,"The Oath of Hippocrates has remained in Western civilization as an expression of ideal conduct for the physician." (Peter Tyson, "The Hippocratic Oath Today," NOVA and PBS, March 27 2001)

Consider the gravity of the circumstances in Southern Ohio, and review the vital contract medical doctors make with their patients. We must hold our trusted physicians to their solemn word as they practice medicine. They have sworn to the The Hippocratic Oath. Here are portions of the modern version of that oath.

"I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

"I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.


"Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God."

As patients and citizens of Scioto County, we demand to know the extent of any breeches of this document. We expect to learn the truth. We hope all investigatory bodies do these things:

1. Uncover the facts concerning cases of overtreatment.

2. Uncover the facts that show many "cures" do more harm than good and that show a safer and gentler system of true healing does exists.

3. Uncover the facts that pertain to unethical practices that do not raise the general level of health and enhance the innate self-healing potential of the whole person.

4. Uncover the facts that show deliberate malpractice under the influence of greed.

5. Uncover the facts that support any trace of evidence that pertains to "playing God" with human life.

I, as you can tell, am extremely happy that investigations have begun and that appropriate actions have been taken in the matters of Dr. Temponeras. My personal stake in this investigation relates to the rx drug abuse health epidemic in Scioto County. Far too many people have already died and have already been crippled due to the unethical, ravenous tactics of pill mills. I take no joy in deriding any medical doctor who has turned "to the dark side." But, the guilty parties should and must pay. Justice is waiting, its scales poised in the balance.

On Tuesday, May 17, Fred Alverson, law enforcement coordinator for the Southern District of Ohio, reported, “There are no charges that have been filed against anybody. No arrests are anticipated,“ Alverson said. “But search warrants are being executed as a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.”

We, in Scioto County, await the results of that ongoing criminal investigation. We understand that certain limitations and regulations apply to the fact-finding. In truth, we may never be privileged to all the details; however, we deserve revelation of any and all criminal activities.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the DEA, Governor Kasich, Attorney General DeWine, the Scioto Sheriffs Office, the Portsmouth Police Department, and all others who have worked so hard to uncover the dealings of Margy Temponeras, John Temponeras, Mark Fantazuzzi, and Michael Dawes. The enforcement agencies in Ohio are proving that the Buckeye State is the leader in the nation in the fight against prescription drug abuse. Make no mistake, these great warriors are saving many lives.

Many skeptics wondered whether May 17 would ever materialize. For a long time now, we have told people to ignore the "dream killers." A vision of a new, improved community was conceived a few short months ago, and thanks to the concerned citizens of the county, the dream continues to unfold. The right to live a safe, productive, meaningful life free of unnecessary harm  is the intended outcome of all struggles. We have taken another giant step towards that destination.