Seven doctors accused of over-prescribing heroin
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《英国医生杂志》
London
Seven drug addiction specialists were accused by the General Medical Council this week of excessive prescribing of heroin and other drugs, and inadequate surveillance of patients, in what will be the biggest disciplinary case in the history of the GMC.
The seven doctors worked at the Stapleford Centre, one of Britain's biggest private addiction clinics, with branches in Belgravia, London, and Stapleford Tawney, Essex. More than half of the GMC's charges relate to the founder of the Stapleford Centre, Dr Colin Brewer. The other six doctors, three of whom still work at the clinic, are Anthony Haines, Hugh Kindness, Nicolette Mervitz, Martin O'Rawe, Ronald Tovey, and Timothy Willocks.
The case opened on Monday but was adjourned until September owing to the ill health of Dr Brewer.
In addition to offering detoxification services, the Stapleford Centre's doctors prescribed heroin and methadone for the maintenance of addicts who they consider are not yet ready to quit. Heroin maintenance programmes have frequently been rejected by NHS clinics, who prefer to wean patients off the drug. The Home Office has softened its approach in recent years, however. Last May the government announced an expansion of heroin prescribing in the NHS and issued new guidelines.
The seven are accused of misconduct in their initial assessments of patients and in the type, quantity, and combinations of drugs prescribed. The doctors' prescribing was irresponsible, given the potential for diversion, the GMC heard on Monday. Drs Brewer and Tovey are accused of ignoring drug tests that suggested their patients were not following treatment.
Dr Brewer, who is now retired, is also accused of seeking to interfere with potential witnesses to the Professional Conduct Committee. The GMC says that he wrote to two experts asking them to withdraw reports they had submitted that were critical of Drs Haines and Willocks.
One of Dr Brewer's patients, referred to as GS in the case, died after allegedly being sent home with a "DIY home detox" kit. The 29 year old died from aspiration of vomit after mixing diazepam, chlorpromazine, temazepam, flunitrazepam, and clomethiazole. The instructions that Dr Brewer gave to the patient's mother were "complex, unclear, confusing and inadequate," said the GMC.
Dr Colin Brewer founded the Stapleford Centre, one of Britain's biggest private addiction clinics
The Home Office asked Dr Brewer in 1987 to take on the treatment of addicts whose previous doctor, Ann Dally, had been found guilty of over-prescribing by the GMC. The charges he now faces seem to have arisen after routine monitoring by the Home Office Drugs Inspectorate, though the GMC has not said who made the original complaint.
The case is scheduled to last for three months, and the doctors are expected to deny the charges.(Owen Dyer)
Seven drug addiction specialists were accused by the General Medical Council this week of excessive prescribing of heroin and other drugs, and inadequate surveillance of patients, in what will be the biggest disciplinary case in the history of the GMC.
The seven doctors worked at the Stapleford Centre, one of Britain's biggest private addiction clinics, with branches in Belgravia, London, and Stapleford Tawney, Essex. More than half of the GMC's charges relate to the founder of the Stapleford Centre, Dr Colin Brewer. The other six doctors, three of whom still work at the clinic, are Anthony Haines, Hugh Kindness, Nicolette Mervitz, Martin O'Rawe, Ronald Tovey, and Timothy Willocks.
The case opened on Monday but was adjourned until September owing to the ill health of Dr Brewer.
In addition to offering detoxification services, the Stapleford Centre's doctors prescribed heroin and methadone for the maintenance of addicts who they consider are not yet ready to quit. Heroin maintenance programmes have frequently been rejected by NHS clinics, who prefer to wean patients off the drug. The Home Office has softened its approach in recent years, however. Last May the government announced an expansion of heroin prescribing in the NHS and issued new guidelines.
The seven are accused of misconduct in their initial assessments of patients and in the type, quantity, and combinations of drugs prescribed. The doctors' prescribing was irresponsible, given the potential for diversion, the GMC heard on Monday. Drs Brewer and Tovey are accused of ignoring drug tests that suggested their patients were not following treatment.
Dr Brewer, who is now retired, is also accused of seeking to interfere with potential witnesses to the Professional Conduct Committee. The GMC says that he wrote to two experts asking them to withdraw reports they had submitted that were critical of Drs Haines and Willocks.
One of Dr Brewer's patients, referred to as GS in the case, died after allegedly being sent home with a "DIY home detox" kit. The 29 year old died from aspiration of vomit after mixing diazepam, chlorpromazine, temazepam, flunitrazepam, and clomethiazole. The instructions that Dr Brewer gave to the patient's mother were "complex, unclear, confusing and inadequate," said the GMC.
Dr Colin Brewer founded the Stapleford Centre, one of Britain's biggest private addiction clinics
The Home Office asked Dr Brewer in 1987 to take on the treatment of addicts whose previous doctor, Ann Dally, had been found guilty of over-prescribing by the GMC. The charges he now faces seem to have arisen after routine monitoring by the Home Office Drugs Inspectorate, though the GMC has not said who made the original complaint.
The case is scheduled to last for three months, and the doctors are expected to deny the charges.(Owen Dyer)