Liz Taylor’s Doctors Won’t Be Charged

Elizabeth Taylor’s doctors prescribed potentially life-threatening doses of painkillers to the actress, but their conduct does not warrant criminal charges, the district attorney’s office said today.

However, the office will refer the allegations against the physicians-- William Skinner, Michael Gottlieb and Michael Roth--to the state medical board for possible administrative sanctions.

Skinner, identified by investigators as Taylor’s primary physician, is medical director of the chemical dependency center at St. John’s Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica. Gottlieb is the immunologist who reported the first AIDS case in the United States. Roth is a former partner of Gottlieb’s.

Prosecutors said the physicians displayed poor judgment in prescribing the massive amounts of drugs to Taylor, who they said was exposed to the possibility of a fatal overdose. However, the doctors had no criminal intent in prescribing the narcotics, prosecutors said.

Taylor, 58, an Academy Award-winning actress who has frequently admitted her dependence on pills and alcohol, was not a subject of the 1 1/2-year investigation and did not face any charges. She was interviewed by investigators as part of the probe.

Meanwhile, Taylor remained in stable condition at St. John’s Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica, suffering from pneumonia, Taylor spokeswoman Lisa Del Favaro said. In a statement earlier this week, she denied rumors that she is suffering from AIDS.

The actress’ current illness is not believed to be linked to the earlier prescriptions.

The physicians were investigated for allegedly prescribing massive amounts of “Schedule Two” drugs, which include opiates, barbiturates and stimulants, to Taylor in 1987 and 1988.

Taylor in the past has talked openly of her dependence on such drugs as Demerol and Valium, plus alcohol.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Feldstern said in a written report released today that Taylor “has suffered from substance abuse for many years, principally involving pain medication and alcohol,” stemming partly from chronic lower back pain she has suffered since 1957.

“In view of their entire record, it is clear that the prescribing practices of these physicians fell below the accepted standard of medical practice,” Feldstern said in his report.