Crime & Safety

Los Gatos 'Pill Mill' Doctor Now Faces Involuntary Manslaughter Charge

Jasna Mrdjen, originally charged with 12 counts alleging she conspired to sell controlled substances by excessively prescribing narcotics to patients involved in illegal diversion and resale, now faces additional charge due to patient's death.

A Los Gatos doctor is now facing manslaughter charges due to the death of a former patient she prescribed large quantities of powerful prescription drugs without performing an exam, according to county prosecutors.

Dr. Jasna Mrdjen, 69, of Mountain View, arrested in May for allegedly running a "pill mill" operation out of a small clinic at 14125 Capri Dr., Suite #1A in Los Gatos, is set to appear in Adult Drug Court at 115 Terraine St. in San Jose at 1:30 p.m., Sept. 25.

Originally facing 12 felony counts alleging that she conspired to sell controlled substances by excessively prescribing narcotics (Oxycodone) to patients involved in illegal diversion and resale, she's now facing additional charges due to the death and results from the investigation, said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Dana Veazey.

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The additional charge of involuntary manslaughter stems from one of her alleged patients dying Jan. 17, 2012, Veazey said.

Mrdjen has not entered a plea yet and is represented by attorney Guyton Jinkerson, who was not immediately available for comment.

Find out what's happening in Los Gatoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She was arraigned on the charges May 14, accused of prescribing drugs to undercover officers without performing examinations or reviewing medical records.

According to the criminal complaint, Mrdjen also knowingly prescribed to addicts, despite several cases in which their family members pleaded with her to stop, said Veazey.

During a lengthy, multi-agency investigation, numerous patients of Mrdjen were arrested for illegally reselling prescriptions obtained from her, Veazey added.

On Friday, May 11, Santa Clara County Special Enforcement Team (SCCSET) served search warrants on the Pain Management Clinic at Capri Drive and arrested the 1977 graduate of the University of Zagreb Faculty of Medicine in Croatia and admitted to practice in California that same year.

Still in custody today, her bail amount of $1 million has been readjusted to $160,000, Veazey said.

SCCSET was assisted in this case by investigators from the Medical Board of California and California Department of Justice, agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency, and police officers from Los Gatos-Monte Sereno and Mountain View.


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