O'NEIL QUESTIONS NALTREXONE INQUIRY

BRISBANE - PERTH doctor George O'Neil has questioned the ability of the
Medical Board of Queensland to investigate a controversial drug treatment.

Dr O'Neil said two investigations into the use of naltrexone implants had
been triggered by campaigns by two "monopoly" newspapers.

"I think there are two monopoly newspapers, one in Perth and one in
Brisbane, and the effect of those newspapers running questions day after
day has had a big impact on medical boards and lots of people asking what
the heck is going on," Dr O'Neil said today.

"That has tipped the medical board in Queensland into having to answer
questions they are not trained to answer."

Dr O'Neil and Brisbane doctor Stuart Reece are being investigated over the
use of the treatment to curb drug addicts' cravings.

Both doctors have claimed high success rates, but Dr Reece has been banned
from prescribing the implants pending the outcome of the Queensland inquiry
into whether former patients had died as a result of the treatment.