Coroner recommends real-time prescription monitoring to avoid death by opioid drugs

A CORONER has flagged major changes be made to prescription drug laws after an inquest into the death of four Gold Coasters by overdose of painkillers.

A coroner has recommended the Federal Government ban pharmaceutical companies from promoting opioid painkillers to general practitioners.

A CORONER has recommended a real-time prescription monitoring service be implemented statewide in the next two years to avoid deaths by prescription opioid drugs.

Coroner James McDougall also urged Queensland Health to provide better education to general practitioners about prescribing painkillers.

He recommended the Federal Government ban pharmaceutical companies from promoting opioid painkillers to general practitioners.

Mr McDougall handed down the recommendations in Southport Coroners Court today after an inquest into the death of four Gold Coasters by overdoses of prescription painkillers.

William John House, 30, Jodie Anne Smith, 41, Daniel Keith Milne, 40, and Vanessa Joan White, 38, all died between 2012 and 2014 after taking overdoses of prescription painkillers.

In all four cases they had gone to multiple doctors to gain access to multiple prescriptions.

Mr McDougall warned a prescription monitoring service must be implemented by Queensland Health urgently.

It is estimated it will take at least five years for a national service to be put in place.

It is estimated it will take at least five years for a national service to be put in place.

“The number of deaths while it is being implemented is alarming,” Mr McDougall said.

He said each year about 1,500 people died from over doses of prescription opioids.

Mr McDougall said the four cases he examined were just an example of the “growing epidemic” of opioids.

He said each of the deaths highlighted the need for a prescription monitoring service.

Mr McDougall said he found doctors were often prescribing the drugs without all the information they needed.

He said that was why General Practitioners needed more education about prescribing opioids.

He did not make a recommendation for any doctors to be referred to the medical health board.