Shorewood Gynecologist Jailed On Drug Charges

A popular Shorewood gynecologist was jailed on felony drug and identity theft charges in connection with using prescriptions written for others to get painkillers.

Dr. Thomas Heggen, 55, of 1004 Layne Court, was jailed Thursday and appeared in court Friday afternoon via closed circuit television for a bond hearing.

Heggen twice employed illicit means to obtain drugs, prosecutor Mary Fillipitch said during the bond hearing. Heggen used prescriptions that had been written for members of his family to get a hold of Norco, a hydrocodone painkiller, as well as "other controlled substances," Fillipitch said.

Fillipitch asked Judge Marzell Richardson to set Heggen's bond at $40,000 and to forbid him from practicing medicine. She also said the "medical board" is investigating Heggen.

"I don't know if they're suspending his license, if they haven't suspended it already," Fillipitch said.

According to the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, Heggen is still licensed to practice medicine and has never been disciplined.

Judge Richardson declined to order Heggen to stop practicing medicine. He told Fillipitch to put her request in writing and submit it to the judge who will preside over the case.

Richardson set Heggen's bond at $15,000.

Heggen's attorney, Steven Haney of Joliet, told Richardson his client developed an addiction to painkillers after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2008.

Haney said Heggen has "lived in this area, in our town, judge, since at least 1987," and that he wants to "successfully deal with this and put it behind him."

The Shorewood police took Heggen into custody. The Shorewood police failed to respond to inquiries about the case.

Heggen practiced as an obstetrician and gynecologist out of an office on Jefferson Street. The answering service for the office said he still works there but, according to the website ratemds.com, he no longer does.

Heggen also performs liposuction procedures at the Eterna MedSpa & Laser Vein Center on Vertin Boulevard.

According to the biography for Heggen posted on the website for the liposuction business, the doctor "earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and completed his internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Blodgett Memorial Medical Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan."

The biography says Heggen has "become known for his holistic and compassionate care of his patients. His special interests include minimally invasive surgery, the perimenopause, and general medical care of his patients, especially as it is uniquely influenced by age and gender."

The ratemds.com site lists 10 glowing reviews of Heggen.

"Dr. Heggen is the most wonderful and patient doctor ever! He spends equal time with all his patients and listens to them," reads one review.

"Simply the best!" says another. "I am an ob nurse and have worked with many different physicians over the years, and he is the total package."