Dr. Lynne Fenton, Psychiatrist Of Aurora Shooting Suspect, Was Disciplined For Drug Prescriptions

Dr. Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist with the University of Colorado, treated James Holmes before the Aurora movie theater shooting.

The psychiatrist who treated James Holmes was reprimanded by Colorado's medical board in 2005 for prescribing drugs to herself, her husband and an employee, according to WPTV.

The Colorado Medical Board of Examiners faulted Dr. Lynne Fenton for incomplete record keeping after prescribing Vicodin, Xanax, Lorazepam and Ambien in the late 1990s, the station said.

Reporters dug into Fenton's background after attorneys for the Aurora shooting suspect disclosed in court documents that Holmes was her patient.

The board found that Fenton wrote prescriptions for Lorazepam and Vicodin to an employee with headaches and anxiety. Another time, she provided Xanax for an employee before a flight and took the three tablets herself while her mom battled a terminal disease, according to NBC News. Her husband got an Ambien prescription from her to treat insomnia.

As part of the medical board's order, Fenton had to complete additional medical training and give her word that she wouldn't prescribe medications to herself or her family.

Holmes' lawyers want to obtain a notebook that he mailed to Fenton before he allegedly opened fire at a packed screening of "The Dark Knight Rises," killing 12 people and wounding 58 more. Reports about the journal are disputed, but the initial account claimed it included troubling sketches of a shooting.

Prosecutors charged Holmes on Monday with 142 crimes, including 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 attempted murder.

PHOTOS: JAMES HOLMES IN COURT

Loading Slideshow

• James E. Holmes

  James E. Holmes, left, appears in Arapahoe County District Court, with defense attorney Tamara Brady, right, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting on Friday, July 20, in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• James E. Holmes, Tamara Brady

  People in the courtroom listen to the court hearing of James E. Holmes in Arapahoe County District Court Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is accused of killing 12 and wounding 58 in a shooting rampage in a Colorado theater on Friday, July 20. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• James E. Holmes

  James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting last Friday in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• In this image taken from video provided by KUSA.com, James Holmes, left, the suspected gunman in Friday's Colorado theater massacre, makes his first appearance in court with his attorney Tamara Brady in Centennial, Colo. on Monday, July 23, 2012. (AP Photo/KUSA.com)

• Carol Chambers

  Carol Chambers, district attorney for the 18th Judicial District, speaks during a media availability after a court appearance by James Holmes at the Arapahoe County Courthouse, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Twelve people were killed and dozens were injured in a shooting attack early Friday at a packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." Police have identified the suspected shooter as Holmes, 24. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

• James E. Holmes, Tamara Brady

  James E. Holmes, center, appears in Arapahoe County District Court, with public defenders Tamara Brady, right, and Daniel King Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is accused of killing 12 and wounding 58 in a shooting rampage in a movie theater on Friday, July 20 in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• James E. Holmes

  James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting Friday, July 20, in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• David Sanchez

  David Sanchez, whose son-in-law was critically wounded, speaks after a court appearance by shooting suspect James Holmes at the Arapahoe County Courthouse, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Twelve people were killed and dozens were injured in the shooting attack early Friday at an Aurora, Colo., theater during a showing of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

• Family members of a victim from last week's theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., link hands as they arrive for a court appearance by shooting suspect James Holmes at the Arapahoe County Courthouse, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Twelve people were killed and dozens were injured in the shooting attack early Friday at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

• A woman, third from left, is led to the courtroom where James Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is the suspect in the mass shooting last Friday in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

• Anggiat Situmeang,

  Anggiat Situmeang, center, who suffered an injury in last week's theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., is helped inside to see a court appearance by alleged shooter James Holmes, at the Arapahoe County Courthouse Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

• James E. Holmes

  Assistant District attorney Karen Pearson speaks at a hearing for James E. Holmes in Arapahoe County District Court, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting last Friday in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• James E. Holmes

  James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting last Friday in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• James E. Holmes

  James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting last Friday in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• James E. Holmes

  James E. Holmes, left, appears in Arapahoe County District Court, with defense attorney Tamara Brady, right, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting on Friday, July 20, in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

• James E. Holmes

  District Court Judge William Blair Sylvester speaks as James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting last Friday in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. (AP Photo/Denver Post, RJ Sangosti, Pool)

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Comments

[propackage]

08:01 PM on 12/24/2012

We exonerate people by reason of insanity. What should happen to this person. He went to a mental health provider and he was abused. Instead of doing the work to get him healthy it looks like the easy way was taken. Medication. I know in my head he is at fault, but you get the fealing he is the fall guy for the drug companies and the paid proffesions. If you want to have a cold heart, I hope this doesn't happen to someone you love, that you go for help and when you are drowning and they throw water on you

[Thinksink Sing]

12:59 AM on 08/24/2012

Medical doctors have SAMPLES of any drug on the market that are freely given to them by big pharma sales reps... so why would the doc even need to prescribe for self , family and and pals? The only logical reason...she just did not know any better. But the only question is...where did she go to school and do the residency and how did she pass her exams to get a license without them catching the fact that she did not know any better? FYI when a patient sends you stuff open it immediately especially when you know he is fruit-loops to make sure YOU THE DOCTOR HAVE ALL THE INFO NEEDED TO MAKE INFORMED AND CAREFUL DECISIONS..

[Jimmy Nelson]

07:49 PM on 08/16/2012

Patsy?

[June25]

11:21 AM on 08/08/2012

I understand a little how the people of Denver might wish to know every insignificant detail like this about this case but I doubt it helped the rest of us our gave us any understanding what went wrong on that tragic night.

[T Miller II]

05:29 AM on 08/08/2012

I guarantee there are other medical professionals out there that do the exact same thing on a regular basis. Is it over the line to prescribe meds to yourself? Maybe. I'm not qualified to make that judgment. I don't see how this is really relevant though, when it's obviously common practice. Does serve one purpose though - draws attention away from the fact that she followed protocol and reported that she had concerns over the defendant's desire to harm people. The fact that those charged with investigating that information did nothing should be the main focus of this doctor's time in the public eye.

[Thinksink Sing]

01:03 AM on 08/24/2012

Prescribing for self, family and pals is totally NOT common practice in fact the druigs mentioned in this article are all class 2 and 3 drugs which are heavily monitored by the government. Prescriptions must be written in duplicate and this is probably how she got caught. No one is allowed to prescribe in this way. Stigma may be the reason for trying to do this as she may not have wanted the powers that be to have info that she even needed drugs to get through a hard time in her life and that is a sad state of affairs in our system if even the doc feels this way.

[jettymichael]

11:36 PM on 08/07/2012

I know of so many doctors that give prescriptions like candy after all that is how they make a living. I am wondering how she was caught unless she made the wrong diagnosis but to my knowledge most narcs are requested.

[kesterlaw]

08:33 PM on 08/07/2012

I think it is pretty crappy that this sotry was written. So, the doctor has a history in which she may have abused drugs. The literature suggest that doctors, lawyers, police officer, people in those proffesions are not only more like to abuse drugs but also more likely to commit suicide. That was not mentioned in the story. I was critical of this doctor at first for not alerting authorities prior to something happening but then it turns out she actually did but because he did not have a criminal record things were let go. I think under those circumstances she did what she could. I can see the lawsuits already though which would likely name her in any event, the police for failing to arrest the guy when reported previously, the theatre and everyone else they can find.

[propackage]

08:16 PM on 12/24/2012

The two things happen to go together. Abusing anti -psychotic drugs make someone more apt to commit suicide. If you watch TV enough you will see disclaimers that make you wonder why anyone would ever take any of them.

[marianela afridi]

04:07 PM on 08/07/2012

Great Athiesmo, I'm with you. Seems to me, she was helping her family and friends which many physicians do and it makes her human. Nothing of what is described here has anything to do with James Holmes.

[Thinksink Sing]

01:07 AM on 08/24/2012

sound ethical careful decision making is important and that is why everyone is looking very carefully at what she did. Next time you go to see your psychologist or psychiatrist try to remember the huge liability they take on in treating you.

[propackage]

08:17 PM on 12/24/2012

I don't agree. Drugs usually mask problems, not fix them. When you take a shortcut, you are usually cutting across someone selses lawn

[The Great Athiesmo]

11:23 PM on 08/06/2012

So she provided someone with anxiety and pain with anti-anxiety and pain medication. Then she provided somebody with anxiety about flying anti-anxiety medication, and took a couple herself when her mother was dying (might have caused some anxiety). Finally an ambian prescription for somebody with insomnia. How is any of this a problem?
Also, what does this have anything to do with the main story?

[phal4875]

03:25 PM on 08/06/2012

What does this have to do with James Holmes?

[jdg64]

01:07 PM on 08/06/2012

This story originated with Fox News, right? It just has that...smell.

[June25]

11:08 AM on 08/08/2012

Good shooting Tex.KMGH is the local ABC station in Denver.

[todmbold]

12:46 PM on 08/06/2012

Yawn......and folks think I'm bad because I smoke pot. Go figger...

[katgal1232]

10:53 AM on 08/06/2012

Glad to see that most folks that comment see that this is just silly to go after her. Folks that want to point the finger at her are pretty comical in the commentary.

[m1jones]

05:29 PM on 08/05/2012

A fairly minor pecadillo to reprimand. There are excellent, factual reasons to criticize psychiatrists and their roles in academia, redicing/stopping violence. What should they do when patients say they are fantasizing about killingl people. Many people get angry enough from time to time to think. How can you spot the real nutcases (my preferred term because it doesn't pretend to be technical)? Parents soon find out how hard this is. The doctor's warning to the administration precipitated them parting ways "by mutual consent" with James Holmes.

Psychiatry is better than witchcraft, but has low success in treating mental illness. It helps people to recognize and mask their symptoms to remain "functional." They help people with modest problems (like problem drug interactions) but on the whole, they mostly give non-psychiatrists hope/confidence that we are doing all we can for persons with mental problems.

Psychiatry failed. The school administration failed - they just tried to make the problem go away and thereby made it much worse. But by then, James Holmes was not their responsibility.

Fact is, laws to protect individual freedom out-trump laws to protect the public - until someone goes off the deep end and hurts or kills people. Holmes was very similar to the Tucson killer who shot Gabrielle Giffords. I think lay people are almost better at identifying potential killers than psychiatrists whose professional ethics and need to follow laws make them even more ineffective than they would otherwise be.

[Crisdean Wulver]

05:27 AM on 08/05/2012

I wouldn't read too much into this. This sounds like just another example of the absurd and insane drug laws in this nation. The DEA has become so paranoid about prescription drugs ending up in the wrong hands that doctors often hate to even prescribe opiates just to avoid the headaches. If she prescribed drugs to these people for reasons that were legitimate, then what's the problem?

[katgal1232]

10:31 AM on 08/06/2012

I am with you on this and most likely a lot of other things, love the bio.