Drugs doctor fined $2000
Leading medic had ice, ecstasy, cannabis, mushrooms at home
A LEADING obstetrician found with a stash of drugs in his Gold Coast home walked from court yesterday with a $2000 fine.
No conviction was recorded which means Ashraf Hanafy, 57, will be able to start seeing patients again as early as next week.
His medical registration was suspended after he was charged. He was also suspended from his teaching position at Bond University.
Hanafy’s lawyer claims a Gold Coast hospital is ready to employ the Egyptian-born doctor who made his name as a world-leading researcher into uterus transplants.
Hanafy yesterday pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to seven charges including possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and failing to correctly dispose of syringe.
Outside court, his lawyer Michael McMillan, of McMillan Criminal Law, said Hanafy would be heading back to medical practice.
“I expect him to be practising in one of hospitals by this time next week,” he said.
Mr McMillan said that hospital was John Flynn Private Hospital in Tugun.
Minutes earlier, the doctor sat on his own in a tailored, light-grey suit with his arms crossed over his chest as he waited for his matter to be heard in court nine.
In the seats near him sat other defendants more familiar with the court process but on the same charges.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Nillin Lynch said police found the stash of drugs in the bedroom and living areas of Hanafy’s Reedy Creek home during a search on June 15.
About 9g of ice was found, 27.5 ecstasy tablets, bags of cannabis and hallucinogenic mushrooms.
The search occurred after Hanafy was caught drug driving near his home.
The positive drug test was enough to prompt police to get a search warrant.
Before his run in with the law, Hanafy had privileges to work at John Flynn Private Hospital in Tugun and the Tweed Heads Hospital.
The charges also prompted an outpouring of support form his former patients.
Mother Allison Stankovic said on Facebook in July that Hanafy was understanding when her son died at birth.
“After many visits to him, multiple surgeries and delivering my son, Ash never once appeared to be anything other than caring, professional and intelligent,” she said.
In court yesterday, Magistrate Michelle Dooley reminded Hanafy of his responsibilities to his patients.
“A lot of the community has put a lot of faith in you and you are obviously a person who has been able to succeed very well in your professional endeavours,” she said. She warned Hanafy if he appeared in court again a conviction would be recorded.
“With all due respect you will never see me in this court again,” Hanafy replied.
Magistrate Dooley said she hoped that was the case.
“You are a person in a very privileged position, in a lot of responsibility.
“You need to reflect that in your personal behaviour,” she said.
Mr McMillan said Hanafy got his medical registration back after going to the
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. He said part of that process included getting regularly drug tests.
“All of the tests have come back clean,” he said.
Mr McMillan said conditions had been placed on his registration, including he be supervised by another medical practitioner at all times.
“The conditional practice is going to be in place for the foreseeable future,” he said.
“This is a man who is at the peak of his career and he gave his life to his patients.”
He told the court Hanafy had lost about $150,000 in the months he was unable to practise.
After the court proceedings, Hanafy declined to talk.
Instead he sat in an interview room in the courthouse and made phone calls in an effort to avoid media.
A spokeswoman for Ramsay Health Care, which operates John Flynn Private Hospital, said Hanafy had not worked at the hospital since the suspension of his accreditation.
“Ramsay Health Care’s decision regarding lifting the suspension of a visiting medical specialist’s accreditation is subject to a number of considerations including any conditions that may be imposed on that doctor’s registration by AHPRA,” she said.
The spokeswoman said health care practitioners were required by law to notify authorities if they suspect a health professional had practised their profession while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.