By Brian Bowling

 

A Pine doctor pleaded guilty on Monday to charges that he traded drugs for sex with some of his patients but pleaded no contest to causing a fatal overdose for one of them.

Michael Vogini, 56, who operated a practice in Morningside, prescribed drugs including Vicodin and Xanax to at least six female patients in exchange for sexual acts performed in his office, home and hotels dating back to 1999, prosecutors said. One patient, Beverly Switalski, 47, received more than 20 prescriptions from Vogini and died of a drug overdose on May 2, 2006, prosecutors said.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward Borkowski sentenced Vogini to six to 12 years in prison on a charge of drug delivery resulting in death and 10 years of probation on other charges resulting from a state Attorney General's Office investigation.

William Difenderfer, Vogini's attorney, said Vogini immediately reported to the Allegheny County Jail to begin his sentence. The main negotiation with prosecutors centered on Vogini's sentence, he said.

"In light of our preparation for the case, we're very pleased with the agreement," Difenderfer said.

 

 

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