A Doctor Is Facing Charges for Prescribing Too Many Drugs to Slipknot Bassist Paul Gray, Who Died in 2010

Two years after the tragic passing of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, a major development related to his death has surfaced in the case of a Des Moines, Iowa, doctor charged yesterday for involuntary manslaughter. Physician Daniel Baldi was busted for over-prescribing narcotic painkillers to his patients, with one of the eight victims being revealed as Paul Gray.

According to the Des Moines Register, the charging documents claim Daniel

“did unintentionally cause the death of Paul Gray by the commission of an act likely to cause death or serious injury, to-wit, continually wrote high-dose prescription narcotics to a known drug addict from 12/27/2005 until his death.”

Daniel has been charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter for allegedly over-prescribing narcotic painkillers to his patients — dangerous malpractice in any case, but particularly problematic in Gray’s case, given his history of drug abuse. Paul’s death was ruled an accidental overdose of morphine and fentanyl. The autopsy also showed that Gray had significant heart disease Gray was found dead at the age of 38 in a hotel in Urbandale, Iowa, on May 24, 2010.

As for Daniel, his lawyer claims that the charges against him are unprecedented in the state of Iowa. The physician faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted on the eight counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan is speaking out on these charges saying,

“This epidemic of this sort of activity is becoming more and more … evident. It truly is becoming a problem amongst people. And it trickles all the way down to the youth. And awareness needs to be brought about — not only substance abuse but the ability to acquire substances, to get chemicals and the efficiency of it. Hopefully justice will be served.”

Slipknot will reportedly issue a full-length statement later today on this story.

Is there anyone to blame other than Paul? As sad as addiction can be, you can’t always blame someone else. We see this too often in Hollywood. Celebrities dying from overdoses and the doctors get the blame. Yes, some Doctors just do what their celebrity patients tell them to so they get more money. If they say no to a patient, guess what, he or she will find a Doctor who will give them what they want.

Similar things can be said for an obese person blaming fast food restaurants for their health issues. Just because it’s out there, doesn’t mean we have to take or eat it.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, get help. The addict has to want to get help, you can’t force something on them that they do not want. Click here for addiction specialists in the St. Cloud area.

(Des Moines Register)