Doctor guilty of prescribing drugs to known addict

A LOWER Hutt doctor who overprescribed high doses of controlled drugs to a known addict for over a decade has been found guilty of malpractice.

Dr Dennis Wong, of Avalon, prescribed the sedative Halcion and the weight loss drug Duromine to the patient, known as Mrs U. However, medical practitioners were barred from prescribing to her as she was subject to a restriction notice under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Earlier this month, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found that between 2000 and 2010 Dr Wong irresponsibly prescribed the drugs in high doses, knowing Mrs U was a drug addict.

The tribunal found Dr Wong was aware of the restriction notice but prescribed anyway.

While Dr Wong was on sick leave in 2002 and 2003 a locum at the Stokes Valley Medical Centre advised authorities she thought Mrs U was selling the drugs. Mrs U was also seen with methadone users outside a pharmacy.

In 2005, Dr Wong was told by staff at a Wellington pharmacy they had seen Mrs U selling medication she had just collected.

Dr Wong said ‘‘it was their word against Mrs U’s’’ and that he would continue to prescribe for her, which he did.

In mid-2006 Dr Wong expressed his frustration at Mrs U in his pa- tient notes: ‘‘How can I get rid of this patient!!’’ he wrote.

The tribunal found ‘‘a pattern of regular excuses given by [Mrs U] such as loss of medication, assertions of theft, and apparent trips away justifying early pickups. However, Dr Wong displayed no understanding as to how to deal with these classic drug-seeking behaviours’’.

It was found he took no constructive steps to discuss the issue with colleagues, refer Mrs U to the Alcohol and Drug Clinic, or try to wean her off the drugs, except in one instance.

In 2010 another Wellington pharmacist raised concerns about Dr Wong’s prescribing to Mrs U, who had presented scripts at five city pharmacies.

The tribunal found Dr Wong may have been ‘‘unable to see that the patient may have been manipulating him for the purposes of medication inappropriately or for her drug dependence’’.

He also admitted he had not satisfactorily addressed Mrs U’s body image and weight issues.

Dr Wong was ordered to pay nearly $40,000 in fines and costs.

In June he announced he was retiring after 37 years as a doctor.

Should he return to clinical practice, the tribunal placed conditions on Dr Wong, including that he not prescribe controlled drugs, undergo a 12-month supervision and attend a course on dealing with difficult patients.