When the DEA suspended the drug registration of Peter Pfeiffer on Monday, the agency said the Bellingham, Washington-based physician  had illegally provided hundreds of people across the country 34,400 doses of hydrocodone via the Web. Federal agents claim Pfeiffer allowed customers  to fill out an online questionnaire and provide unverified medical records to request the drug.

Pfeiffer was able to get away with issuing so many prescriptions because there is no cap on the number of prescriptions that  doctors can issue in a given period. Arguably there shouldn't be, as this may hinder patients from legal access to controlled substances. But at the same time, this lack of regulation allows someone like Pfeiffer to prescribe a Schedule III drug like candy.

Question: what is the only major drug that is available as a natural, harvested product? If you said marijuana, you'd be right. All other drugs have to be produced or manufactured, according to the DEA's Diversion Control Program. So when chemicals are being shipped to companies that want to turn them into legitimate medicines, the DEA makes sure they actually get there and not...diverted...along the way.

And in an effort to provide transparency, the DEA Website posts the applications when pharmacies or people register to receive shipments of controlled substances. The site also shows if their applications are approved. Sorry, Lyle E. Craker, Ph.D.! His application to become a bulk manufacturer of marijuana was denied. Craker has since filed an appeal, which will be considered later this spring.

How do online pharmacies find doctors to work for them?

Apparently, it's not that hard. Online forums, for one, allow online pharmacy owners to make an open call for doctors. One such forum is http://rxaffiliateforum.com/index.php.

A posting on the site by eckox, Junior Member, reads a follows: “I have the capital on hand looking for doctor to review and pharm to fill and ship orders to start a legitment OP PM me if any one has some help.“

Yolanda, Junior Member, posted: "Looking for a doctor to review, non controlled orders only. 95% are Tramadol, Butal. and Soma. US doctor needed. to start asap.” Tramadol, Butal and Soma are all painkillers. They are not controlled drugs but still require a doctor's prescription.

Over the years, several doctors have been indicted for making out prescriptions for online pharma clients who only have to fill out a questionnaire and are not required to see a doctor in person. These prescriptions are then sent to brick-and- mortar pharmacies that supply the drugs.

I wonder if anyone has actually found a doctor online who is willing to work for an Internet drugstore? Any information is welcome. Contact me through this site if you have something to add.