ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) - Dozens of people who were patients of a suspended central Indiana doctor continue to support him against allegations of dangerously prescribing painkillers.

About 70 former patients of Dr. Phillip D. Foley of Middletown attended an appreciation event for him Tuesday night at an Anderson restaurant. Many there disagreed with a state board's decision last month to suspend Foley's medical license after investigators said his prescriptions caused or contributed to nine overdose deaths.

Dorothy Clarkson said Foley's recommendations that she take pain medications was the only relief she's found for her misaligned hips and shoulders and degenerative back.

Foley told his former patients that his heart aches since he can't take care of them anymore but that he has no regrets.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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