Dr William Neil Maish reprimanded after woman’s seizure from cannabis vape

A doctor with links to the Sunshine Coast has faced a tribunal after he supplied a marijuana vape to a friend following cocktails at his home, which led to her suffering from a seizure.

Dr William Neil Maish has been reprimanded following a decision by the Health Ombudsman.

A doctor with links to the Sunshine Coast has been reprimanded after supplying a marijuana vape to a woman which led to her suffering seizures and needing an ambulance.

The actions of William Neish Maish was declared as professional misconduct in a published Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision in late October following his lapse of judgement with a female friend on June 11, 2022.

Court documents state Dr Maish was employed at Health Hub Morayfield and Releaf Clinics and Dispensaries at the time of his conduct two years ago. He no longer works at either business.

The 32-year-old worked as a doctor in the respiratory clinic with a woman who was an enrolled nurse.

Dr Maish was not her usual treating doctor but rather a work colleague and a friend.

During their shift the woman told the 32-year-old medical practitioner she was developing symptoms which were consistent with influenza A.

Dr Maish performed a short visual assessment of the woman and believed her symptoms were consistent with the illness.

He performed a short visual assessment of the woman after she said she was feeling unwell. Picture: iStock

Documents state Dr Maish did not make notes at work but instead went home after his shift and wrote records of the woman’s symptoms on a notepad.

He also prepared a medical certificate for her on Releaf Clinic and Dispensaries letterhead for a week off work.

The woman however was not a patient of the clinic, with the tribunal stating Dr Maish did not provide this record to the woman’s usual practitioner or to her for inclusion in her medical records. He also did not provide a copy of his handwritten notes to her or her usual doctor.

Later that night he sent her the medical certificate from his personal email address, and two hours later about 11.30pm she arrived at his home for a social visit.

Dr Maish and the woman talked and drank cocktails together when, about 12.45am the next morning, he prepared a canister of medical marijuana and smoked it from a vape.

He was prescribed cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain with his possession being lawful and in accordance with his prescription.

Court documents state Dr Maish was aware the woman previously suffered a psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES) previously after drinking alcohol and taking cannabis.

These specific seizures were “not harmful” and rarely required medical treatment, however someone suffering from this required the same seizure treatment as one who was suffering from an epileptic seizure.

Dr Maish was prescribed medical marijuana. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The woman initially declined his offer to smoke the marijuana from his vape however later on she ingested some.

The tribunal stated Dr Maish did not stop her from doing this.

The woman then suffered the first of a series of PNES while sitting on the couch.

Documents state she was suffering from such “immediate ill consequences”, an ambulance was called.

Twelve days later the woman reported Dr Maish’s conduct to police, and in a telephone conversation together the doctor admitted to providing the marijuana to her.

He was later charged with and pleaded guilty to supplying dangerous drugs in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 14, 2022.

He was fined $1000 with no conviction recorded.

Tribunal documents stated three allegations which were admitted, which were Dr Maish’s sentence in court for supplying drugs, his inappropriate production of a medical certificate for the woman and how he failed to keep or maintain medical records of his assessment.

Documents state Dr Maish was a registered medical practitioner after he obtained his qualifications of a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the Australian National University at Canberra in 2019.

He also holds a Bachelor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences from the University of Queensland and other tertiary qualifications from institutions in Australia and the UK.

He has no prior disciplinary history.

The tribunal found his conduct constituted professional misconduct, however acknowledged the 32-year-old gained insight and was remorseful.

Several character references spoke to this along with his competence as a practitioner, his kindness and concern for his patients, and the love he had for his profession.

The tribunal accepted Dr Maish was unlikely to “transgress again” and reprimanded him. No costs were ordered.

Originally published as Dr William Neil Maish reprimanded after woman’s seizure from cannabis vape