Los Angeles: The NRI doctor accused of prescribing methadone to an alias of Anna Nicole Smith gave ''sound and appropriate'' treatment to the former Playboy playmate, his attorney said on Friday.
The response came a day after the California Medical Board said it opened an inquiry of Dr Sandeep Kapoor about possible misconduct involving Smith.
Kapoor treated Smith, but no details can be released because of patient confidentiality, attorney Ellyn Garofalo said.
''Dr Kapoor's treatment program for Anna Nicole Smith was at all times medically sound and appropriate,'' Garofalo said in a statement. ''We are confident that responsible authorities will agree and Dr Kapoor will cooperate with any inquiries by the Medical Board of California.''
Smith, who was living in the Bahamas, died on February 8 in Florida at the age of 39. The cause is under investigation.
This week, TMZ.com published what appeared to be an August 25, 2006, pharmacy receipt for a methadone prescription written by a ''Dr Kapoor, S'' to ''Chase, Michelle.'' TMZ said ''Michelle Chase'' was an alias used by Smith.
Smith was pregnant with her daughter, Dannielynn, at the time. TMZ did not say how the document was obtained.
The state medical board also was looking into whether it is legal to prescribe drugs for someone using an alias. Several sections of the California Health and Safety Code state that no person who prescribes or dispenses a controlled substance may make any false statements in the prescription form.
''The media frenzy surrounding Smith's life and tragic death underscores why public figures may choose to use pseudonyms in order to protect the privacy of their medical treatment,'' Garofalo said in the statement.
She did not say whether Kapoor prescribed methadone for Smith, but said, “Medical research and protocols confirm that methadone is approved for use by pregnant patients.''
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