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Courtney Orton reporting A Utah doctor is accused of trading prescription pills for sex with female patients. Police say the so-called "trading" was taking place in hotel rooms.
According to the probable-cause statement, Dr. Max Cannon would meet women at hotel rooms and write them prescriptions for pain pills in exchange for sexual favors. At least two women are accusing 49-year-old Cannon of trading sex for drugs. One woman told police about the trading while she was in jail on a drug-related arrest.
Another former patient said her relationship with Cannon began after hernia surgery. Police encouraged the woman to call Cannon and re-establish a relationship, which led to a planned meeting at this Hampton Inn in Provo. Court documents say Cannon agreed to meet the woman and give her OxyContin if she "went all the way with him."
Investigators got two rooms and wired them with microphones and cameras. The woman told Cannon to get undressed while she changed in the bathroom. When Cannon brought out the drugs, police went in to the room and arrested him.
Cannon has worked as an independent general physician at several Utah Valley hospitals in the past 15 years, including Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and Mountain View Hospital in Payson. According to the Deseret Morning News, those hospitals have suspended his privileges pending the outcome of the investigation.
Cannon is charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Utah County Jail but has since been bailed out.
