BOARD TO INVESTIGATE DRUG CLINIC

The Queensland Medical Board will investigate the controversial work done
by Dr Stuart Reece with heroin addicts in his Brisbane clinic.

The order by Health Minister Wendy Edmond to the board to start an urgent
inquiry came after she had repeatedly said she had no power to do anything
until people lodged formal complaints.

Her order came as The Courier-Mail learned yesterday Ms Edmond herself
received a formal complaint more than 12 months ago from a Brisbane woman
distraught at tragic outcomes for her son and daughter-in-law who were
heroin-addicted patients of Dr Reece.

Julie Perrett said she had been complaining to the Health Rights Commission
and Ms Edmond "about the lack of duty of care given to the drug addicts
that he pills up to the eyeballs", but got nowhere.

Ms Edmond responded by saying she was unable to offer any further help and
suggested to Ms Perrett that "to obtain satisfaction you could contact the
Ombudsman directly".

Ms Edmond's spokesman said last night: "We would have the letter of
complaint on file and we can forward it to the Medical Board."

The decision by the State Government to move ahead of the complaints
process comes amid concerns expressed by leading Queensland doctors about
to Dr Reece's practice.

Premier Peter Beattie said it resulted from reports in The Courier-Mail
which raised serious matters about Dr Reece's work and revealed he knew of
24 deaths among almost 850 patients since July 1998.

It was also revealed naltrexone implants surgically fitted into the
abdomens of drug addicts to block the effects of heroin had not undergone
any clinical trials and were "not validated for human use".

The articles prompted calls for Dr Reece's clinic to be closed immediately
so a professional assessment could be made of his treatment methods and
results.

Senior Brisbane Psychiatrist and adviser to the State Government on drug
use Dr Ian Curtis said it was imperative Dr Reece cease activities so the
situation could be investigated and evaluated.

"I am concerned that the present situation is hazardous for Dr Reece and
perhaps for his patients and surely for the future for diverse therapies
for other sufferers," Dr Curtis said.

Professor John Saunders, a senior psychiatrist and authority on naltrexone,
said there must be a proper and thorough review of what was happening in Dr
Reece's practice.

Ms Edmond issued her statement on action late yesterday after Queensland
Alcohol and Drug Foundation chief Bob Aldred said it was reprehensible that
nothing had been done.

"Respected senior medical professionals have made unprecedented public
criticisms of Dr Stuart Reece's medical practices and procedures, but the
Minister says she has to wait for an official complaint to be made despite
many young lives now being knowingly at considerable risk," Mr Aldred said.

Ms Edmond said her direction to the Medical Board to act "says that the
investigation should address a range of issues related to procedures used
by the clinic and Dr Reece".