Illinois suspends Fil-Am doc for ‘improper’ prescriptions

Dr. Ernesto Estor, accused of improperly prescribing controlled substances. PINOY

CHICAGO – State regulators suspended the license of a Filipino American doctor who allegedly prescribed narcotics improperly to patients he suspected were drug dealers.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations “yanked the license” of Dr. Ernesto Estor Jr., a family physician connected with two medical groups and two Chicago area for allegedly “prescribing more than 569,000 doses of controlled substances over a year and a half,” according to an NBC News report on Oct. 7,

Estor reportedly told U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigators he had “legit” patients and “west side” patients, but he was “cutting down on the druggies.”

The NBC report also said that the “Estor’s patient records show him prescribing commonly abused opioid painkillers, cough medicine with codeine and sedatives without proper physical exams. A pharmacist raised concerns about Estor’s prescribing in at least one case.”

Until recently, Estor was part of a group of physicians at Broadway Medical Group in Chicago’s uptown area and Prima Medicus, LLC., at the city’s northside.

He was also known to treat patients at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago and St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois. He was also a visiting physician employed by several Filipino American-owned home health care providers in the Chicago area.

A graduate of the University of the East Medical School in Metro Manila, he also took residency certification courses in Family Medicine at the University of Illinois in Rockford. His online resume states that he is multilingual, speaking English, Filipino, Vietnamese, Spanish and Polish.

Online ratings on quality of medical services gave numerous positive comments on Estor. “Very satisfied,” “excellent bedside manner,” ”very down to earth, nice and comfortable,” “very knowledgeable and helpful,” “I highly recommend Dr. Estor,” are some of his patients’ comments online.

NBC News sought comment from Estor’s attorney about the allegations, but its email wasn’t immediately answered.