A doctor accused of trafficking prescription painkillers in Nova Scotia has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Dr. Sarah Jones was charged in February with fraud and drug trafficking after she allegedly prescribed 50,000 opiate pills to a patient who never received them.
Her lawyer, Stan MacDonald, entered the not-guilty pleas on her behalf Wednesday at Bridgewater provincial court.
The Crown has since adjusted the charges, dropping one count of breach of trust.
“In this particular case, it was deemed that would not have a realistic prospect of conviction,” said Crown attorney Josh Bryson.
Jones was a doctor at Crossroads Family Practice in Tantallon, N.S., but has since been suspended.
In addition to the drug trafficking charges, court documents allege Dr. Jones impersonated a man and defrauded the Atlantic Superstore Pharmacy and the Workers Compensation Board of a value exceeding $5,000.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Members of Get Prescription Drugs off the Street, a group aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse, stood outside the courthouse with signs Wednesday morning.
“I can't bring my son back, but maybe we can save somebody else,” said group member Tamara Ballard, whose son Josh died of a prescription drug overdose.
Ballard says its mandate is to increase education and accountability.
“We need to raise awareness that these prescription medications are not safe, they shouldn't be prescribed as they're being prescribed, and they certainly should not be diverted out on the street,” said Ballard.
Ballard says the group plans to be outside the courthouse every time Dr. Jones' case is unfolding inside.
Dr. Jones’ trial is set for two weeks beginning in February 2017.
MacDonald says that is a long trial for provincial court, but several witnesses are expected to take the stand.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell.
