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| Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has confirmed that Mark Bourque, 49, and John McDonald, 49, were arraigned last week in Lowell District Court in connection with the allegation that Mr. McDonald was writing invalid controlled substances prescriptions to Mr. Bourque, a Tyngsborough Police Officer, who was not his patient. During the course of the investigation, investigators learned that 54 controlled substance prescriptions were allegedly issued to Mark Bourque during non-clinical interactions.
Mark Bourque was charged with conspiracy to violate the drug laws. John McDonald was charged with distribution of a Class B substance and conspiracy to provide controlled substance prescriptions. Judge Stacey Fortes released both defendants on personal recognizance. The next date in both cases is November 19, 2020. On April 21, 2020, the Division of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Narcotics section received information concerning a complaint involving a Physician’s Assistant, John McDonald. The complaint alleged that McDonald was suspected of writing prescriptions for controlled substances to a non-patient identified as Mark Bourque, while John McDonald was employed as an orthopedic physician’s assistant at Lowell General Hospital. Through the investigation, detectives learned that Bourque allegedly requested refills of narcotics and other medication that were filled by John McDonald without the supervising physician’s authorization and without maintaining appropriate records. Authorities also learned that Bourque was not registered as a patient at Lowell General Hospital, where McDonald’s prescriptive writing authority was limited to patients treated there for orthopedic care. These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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