Doctor to Stand Trial in Prozac Death of College Student

The Associated Press Article Last Updated: 06/13/2008 11:08:17 AM PDT

SAN MATEO, Calif.—A Colorado doctor accused of illegally prescribing generic Prozac to a Stanford College student who later committed suicide will stand trial in San Mateo County this fall.

Prosecutors say Dr. Christian Ellis Hageseth prescribed the generic drug called fluoxetine for student John McKay through an online pharmacy in 2005.

At the time of the purchase, Hageseth was not allowed to fill prescriptions because he had a restricted medical license.

McKay committed suicide two months later, leading to charges against Hageseth.

Attorneys for the 67-year-old Hageseth had argued he could not be prosecuted in California because he was not in the state when he prescribed the medication.

The judge in the case has ordered Hageseth to stand trial on Oct. 20 on a single charge of practicing medicine without a license in the state of California.