DRUG RESTRICTION FOR DOCTOR AFTER PATIENT DIES OF OVERDOSE

A BRISBANE doctor who prescribed an addictive narcotic to a drug addict for
his "back pain" was banned from issuing such drugs after the man died of an
overdose.

Michael Charles Gregory prescribed Brett Anthony Benney 60 tablets of
physeptone - a pain-killer similar to morphine - the day before he died,
the Coroner's Court was told yesterday.

Between November 28 last year and January 30 this year, Dr Gregory
prescribed Benney 160 tablets.

The court was told on Benney's last appointment he asked Dr Gregory for
triple his regular prescription because he was going away for work.

When Benney arrived home, he crushed the pills and mixed them with water
before injecting the liquid into his arm. He died on January 31.

The Department of Health cancelled Dr Gregory's authority to prescribe
Schedule 8 drugs such as physeptone on September 10.

Under cross-examination by barrister Peter Nolan, for the Benney family,
manager of the Drugs of Dependence Unit Alun Richards told the court that
Dr Gregory had been under suspicion of prescribing inappropriate narcotics
to Benney and other patients since 1986.

Dr Richards said a doctor must obtain permission from the Chief Health
Officer before prescribing physeptone to a suspected or known drug addict.

But barrister David Tait, for Dr Gregory, argued that the unit, which
tracks people on drug programmes and monitors prescriptions dispensed for
Schedule 8 drugs, did not list Benney as a drug user.

In court yesterday, Dr Gregory claimed privilege from answering questions
about Benney's death.

Coroner Gary Casey found that Benney, 26, formerly of Highgate Hill, died
of comatoasphyxia caused by methadone or morphine toxicity.

Mr Casey called on the Medical Board of Queensland to remind medical
practitioners about the potential dangers involved in prescribing narcotics.

He said doctors should investigate patients' complaints fully and consider
alternative treatments before prescribing "potentially dangerous and
addictive medication".

Checked-by: Richard Lake