Wheelchair addict still rode bike

AN OPIATE-dependant man rode his bike to an electrical store and tried to steal a TV despite turning up to doctors’ appointments in a wheelchair, an inquest has heard.

Practices of “doctor shopping” and the routine prescription of strong pain medication to William John House was revealed during an inquest in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday.

Mr House died of an overdose in his Southport home in 2012. The inquest heard he had been involved in a car accident and complained of regular pain.

He was prescribed up to 80ml of OxyContin, along with Fentanyl patches and Endone by several GPs on the Coast between 2007 and 2012.

One of Mr House’s doctors told the inquest he “believed” the man was suffering from chronic pain and was “always hopeful he would recover”.

The Surfers Paradise doctor said he stopped treating Mr House in 2011 after “too many things” became concerning – including Mr House’s allegations he had been robbed of his medication.

The inquest heard Mr House then began doctor shopping to obtain opiate medications.

He was arrested in December 2011 after riding his bike to an electrical store and attempting to steal a TV.

His treating doctor he was not aware he was able to ride a bike and said he had often presented to the surgery in a wheelchair.

The inquest continues.