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California doctor faces murder trial in 3 men's drug deaths

By AMANDA LEE MYERS
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A prosecutor says that even after several patients died of overdoses, the California doctor now charged in their deaths continued to prescribe powerful painkillers in appointments that lasted as little as three minutes.

But the defense attorney for Dr. Hsiu-Ying "Lisa" Tseng says some of those patients were suicidal, others were using the prescriptions to party, and all took well over the recommended dosage.

The opening statements by both attorneys came Monday in Tseng's trial in Los Angeles. She has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the deaths of three patients.

The 45-year-old could face life in prison if convicted.

Tseng is among only a handful of doctors nationwide to be charged with murder related to prescription drugs.

Her trial is expected to take months.

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