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February 20, 2009

Christian MD charged with script forgery

Tracy Goen, founder of ministry to Nigeria, allegedly forged signature for hydrocodone prescription.

Timothy C. Morgan

Update: Friday, Feb. 20,

tracy%20goen.jpg

Police in College Station, Texas, arrested Tracy Goen (inset photo) last weekend on Feb. 14 and charged him with prescription forgery. The local media reports:

A College Station doctor was in jail Saturday, accused of forging a hydrocodone prescription at an area pharmacy. Officials from the Brazos County Special Investigations Unit arrested Tracy Harrison Goen on Friday after pharmacy employees became suspicious of the prescription he had presented to them. The prescription was written on a prescription pad of another doctor, who told pharmacy workers that he had not prescribed the medicine, authorities said. Goen, 47, admitted forging the hydrocodone prescription and told an investigator that he was addicted to the painkiller, officials said. During a search of Goen's vehicle, officers said, they found several vials of urine, additional forged prescriptions and prescription pads from other doctors. Goen was charged with fraudulent possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years behind bars. He was being held in the Brazos County Jail in lieu of $7,000 bail Saturday. Goen is listed as a physician practicing at Brazos Valley Urgent Care in College Station.

But the local press apparently has missed the faith angle on this story. Goen and his physician wife served as medical missionaries in Nigeria for years. In a 2003 Religion New Service report, the couple was featured for their connection to MedSend, which helps new doctors pay down med school debts in exchange for overseas service.

Here's an excerpt:

MedSend isn't a sending agency, but rather partners with Christian ministries that send medical professionals. After a ministry pays MedSend a one-time participation fee, MedSend looks at the candidate's qualifications and financial situation. MedSend assumes the debts for as long as they're in the field. The average grant is $30,000, but grants for physicians can be more than $100,000. Most donors are Christian doctors.

CT wrote about the Goens in 2005.

Goen is also listed as the founder of HELP West Africa, a Christian ministry. In 2007, Goen spoke before a group involved in medical missions. Here's the audio.

The latest details on his court case have not emerged yet.

posted by Tim Morgan

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