9 Newfoundland and Labrador doctors investigated for over-prescribing drugs

Edited by Iain Mackenzie

The body responsible for regulating physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador has confirmed it investigated nine doctors for allegedly over-prescribing drugs.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons began its probe after the Department of Health and Community Services made the allegations about the doctors more than two years ago.

The college is responsible for setting qualifications for registering and licensing medical practitioners, and setting standards for the practice of medicine in the province.

College registrar Dr. Robert Young, who worked on the investigations, said the department raised questions about the high number of prescriptions the doctors were writing.

"We were advised that the department had questions whether the doctors may have potentially inappropriately prescribed controlled substances," Young told CBC News. "That would mean narcotics, benzodiazepines, Ritalin, the various drugs that are referred to as 'controlled drugs.'"

Young says the college's findings have been given to the complaints committee for review. The committee will report to the Department of Health in early 2008.

If the allegations are true, the college can sanction a physician, ranging from a fine to the revocation of a licence to practise.

Young said police are not investigating any of the physicians at this point.

Reference:

CBC Newfoundland.

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