GMC strikes off drug clinic founder
The GMC has struck Dr Brewer off the medical register
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Thursday, 09, Nov 2006 03:34
A doctor who founded a London drug clinic has been found guilty of inappropriately prescribing patients with drugs and struck off the medical register.
The General Medical Council (GMC) has erased Dr Colin Brewer from the register for management of patients that "fell seriously short of the standards expected of a medical practitioner" and the "irresponsible" actions of his private practice, the London Stapleford clinic.
The case against him focused on his prescribing of so-called DIY detox kits, which he sent a number of patients home with.
One such patient, a 29-year-old referred to as GS, choked on his own vomit in September 2001 after mixing chlorpromazine, diazepam, temazepam, flunitrazepam, and clomethiazole.
The GMC concluded that Dr Brewer, who has now retired, did not provide clear enough guidance about the use of the DIY kit.
"The instruction sheet which contained the names of 16 or more drugs was very confusing," the panel said in its ruling.
"It contained drugs other than the ones which had been prescribed for the patient and often doses which were different from the ones he was asked to take. Given that patients and their carers had limited medical knowledge, it was likely [as it did in GS's case] to result in confusion and error."
Two other doctors at the clinic, Hugh Kindness and Ronald Tovey, were found guilty of serious professional misconduct but the GMC has allowed them to continue practicing.
"The panel was satisfied that it would be sufficient to conclude Dr Kindness's case with a reprimand to be reviewed before the end of that period," the GMC's Professor Denis McDevitt said.
"Conditions were imposed on Dr Tovey's registration for a period of three years."
Dr Tovey is now the director of the clinic and said he would "take time to reflect on the determination and will consider the conditions set out by the GMC". Mr Kindness is retired.
Four other doctors were also investigated in relation to the clinic, but were cleared of misconduct at an earlier hearing.
The Stapleford Centre says it is an "innovative, privately-funded treatment centre which provides cost-effective, research-based treatment for users of heroin, alcohol and other drugs".