Doctor arrested for 2 deaths, 22 felonies takes stand

HAMILTON, Mont. – A Montana doctor took the stand as he faces two charges of negligent homicide for allegedly prescribing the drugs that caused the overdose deaths of two patients.

The Ravalli Republic reported Dr. Chris Christensen told jurors Monday he practiced medicine in California and Wyoming, but it wasn’t until he began treating patients in Idaho in 1992 that he developed an interest in treating patients with chronic pain.

An affidavit says Christensen was arrested in August 2015 and charged with providing methadone to Missoula patients Gregg Griffin and Kara Philbrick-Lenker, who overdosed and died.

In addition to the two negligent homicide charges, Christensen faces nine counts of criminal endangerment and 11 counts of distributing dangerous drugs.

Christensen has pleaded not guilty.