Ex-Blues doctor illicitly prescribed drugs for himself
SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION FOR MEDIC WHO SAID HE BECAME ‘OVERWORKED’ LOOKING AFTER PLAYERS
A FORMER Manchester City doctor who illicitly prescribed himself with anti-anxiety medication claimed he became overworked while treating footballers at the Premier League club.
Dr Matthew Brown, 36, ordered Zopiclone tablets plus anti-depressants for himself in the name of a patient then sent intimidating messages to his ex-girlfriend when he suspected she was the source of a complaint about it to the General Medical Council.
Brown, who was lead doctor at City, used WhatsApp to persuade her to withdraw any statements she might have made against him and in a series of texts said: “You need to sort it. You shouldn’t have done what you did. Put the final nail in my medical career”.
The incidents took place when Brown, who worked at City between 2010 and 2018, issued prescriptions of Zopiclone, Citalopram and Ventolin tablets from an online pharmacy between June 2016 and June 2018 in the name of an unnamed patient, said to be ‘an aesthetic client.’
At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, Brown – who admitted misconduct charges – faced being struck off but was given a sixmonth suspension after claiming he had been under stress due to the long hours he worked at City.
He told the Manchester hearing: “My work at Manchester City developed into working every weekend, resulting in insufficient contact with my son. In addition, I was on call 24 hours a day so that, for example, when a player woke up with a cold at 3am, I was called and tasked to visit to provide treatment. This was not an isolated occurrence.
“I have reflected and accept that during the period in question I did not exercise good judgement, lacked insight into the gravity of my actions and did so due to the stress of working hours, poor time management, and a lack of coping mechanisms.
“I accept that my behaviour was a serious departure from the standards required and expected of a doctor. I have learnt from this process.”
Brown, from Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, who is due to study a Masters degree in Medical Law and Ethics, admitted issuing ‘one or more medications’ in the name of Patient A.
Defence lawyer Abigail Holt told the hearing: “Dr Brown’s deficient behaviour was for a cluster of reasons including work stress, relationship stresses and physical, professional and intellectual laziness.”
Brown will face a review hearing later this year. Panel chairperson Jayne Wheat said: “The dishonesty was committed whilst Dr Brown was in a difficult personal relationship, was overworked and was not able to arrange regular contact with his son.
“It was unsophisticated dishonesty. There was no evidence of drug abuse or of any financial gain.
“However this was active and deliberate dishonesty.”