SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -- A former physician from Greenwood convicted of overprescribing pain medications has been released from prison after serving five years of a 25-year sentence.

The Greenville News reported Saturday that 66-year-old Ronald McIver was released from prison earlier this month after a federal judge vacated one of his convictions and commuted the rest of his sentence.

McIver's attorney says his client is dying of prostate cancer and has less than a year to live.

Prosecutors say McIver represents a large problem among physicians who turn a blind eye to patients who are addicted to strong pain medications and continue to write prescriptions for the drugs.

Federal Judge Henry Floyd agreed that combatting prescription drug abuse is important, but said McIver's case was not an example of how pain doctors should be sentenced.