North shore GP banned from prescribing addictive drugs after probe by NSW Health
A doctor has been banned from handing out drugs including fentanyl — which is about 100 times stronger than morphine. However, the 74-year-old claims he is the victim of script forgery.
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A doctor on Sydney’s north shore claims he is the “victim” of patients forging scripts after he was banned from prescribing a list of addictive medicines.
Dr Marcos Jackson has been prohibited by NSW Health from prescribing or possessing Schedule 8 “drugs of addiction” including codeine, oxycodone and fentanyl.
Mr Jackson — who works at the Neutral Bay Medical Centre and Vale Medical Practice in Brookvale — said he voluntarily agreed to the order after NSW Health officials visited his office in early October.
While agreeing to the ban, Mr Jackson claimed he was the “victim” of patients forging medical scripts in an alleged attempt to source prescriptions for durogesic patches, otherwise known as fentanyl.
Fentanyl — about 100 times stronger than morphine — can be medically prescribed for severe and disabling pain.
However, it also carries potential side effects and the risk of overdose.
“I prescribed durogesic patches on 24 occasions last year and in each case a patient came to me with broken bones or X-rays proving they had serious pain,” Mr Jackson said.
“In every case I sent them to do further CAT scans or MRIs before prescribing (the drug).
“Then in February a chemist called me and asked if a script I’d written out was genuine. I said that I hadn’t (written one).
“Once I discovered some of my old prescriptions were being forged and something fishy was going on I contacted police and my defence union saying I wasn’t comfortable to continue prescribing these things.
“I haven’t made a single prescription for durogesic since then.”
NSW Health declined to provide further details about the order or what prompted the investigation.
In a statement, a NSW Health spokesman said: “the matter is under investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Mr Jackson joined the Neutral Bay Medical Centre in July last year and sometimes also works at the Vale Medical Practice in Brookvale.
“I don’t prescribe (durogesic) anymore — it’s not something that’s vital. Anyone who needs a strong painkiller I now ask them to see another doctor,” he said.
“I’m 72 years old and it makes me feel bad that after 40 years I’ve been banned. It’s my reputation at stake.”
NSW Health said it is illegal to use fentanyl without a prescription from a doctor.
The department spokesman said “a medical practitioner may not prescribe fentanyl or any other Schedule 8 drug to a drug dependent person without the authority by the Ministry of Health.”
NSW Health said the ban was in place “until further notice”.
Patients must also inform a practitioner if they have been prescribed the drug within a previous two month period.
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