Attorneys for a Manhattan physician indicted on federal drug charges are asking prosecutors to clarify what they are seeking to prove in court.

Russian-born Michael P. Schuster is awaiting trial on charges that he illegally issued prescriptions

for controlled narcotics from his Manhattan medical clinic. Among the charges he faces are allegations that he signed blank prescription pads that were later used by his staff to give to patients, a violation of federal law.

Schuster has been held without bail since the charges were filed in May.

His attorney, Thomas Bath, is asking prosecutors to specify whether their case will focus on if the drugs were prescribed without a legitimate medical purpose or if the drugs were prescribed outside the bounds of usual medical practice.