STOCKTON - A doctor who admitted a prolonged addiction to narcotics testified Thursday that he was a moneymaking tool of Wilmer Origel, a chiropractor on trial in Stockton for alleged insurance fraud and the illegal use of drugs on patients.

James Lee said Origel, 48, of Modesto, brought him on in 1998 as director of the Med-1 Medical Center to head up the chain of medical offices, including one on Stockton's Wilson Way. Lee said he quickly learned that he was under Origel's control.

As a chiropractor, Origel couldn't operate the medical offices, so he hired the doctor.

Lee said Origel and his staff kept business records from him and pressured him to see more patients than reasonable to boost revenue. Origel covered up Lee's drug problem one day when he passed out in an office bathroom while shooting up, Lee testified.

"He said, 'I really put myself on the line for you,' " Lee said, referring to comments Origel made to him in a hospital. "He said he covered up for me."

Origel is being tried on 11 felony charges of money laundering, and insurance and workers' compensation fraud. He's charged with performing manipulation under anesthetics, a controversial procedure in which patients are anesthetized to avoid painful adjustments.

Origel faces a state prison sentence if convicted.

Prosecutors and chiropractors throughout California are closely watching Origel's criminal trial. A debate rages over chiropractors' legal right to perform procedures while the patient is under anesthetics.