Doctor convicted after writing 147 scripts for 96 patients while suspended

A West Australian doctor who worked for four months while suspended and wrote 147 scripts for almost 100 patients has been fined $15,000 and ordered to pay $25,000 towards Ahpra’s legal costs.

A registered doctor for 49 years, after the Medical Board of Australia determined his conduct posed a serious risk to patients, the man was suspended from 12 May 2023 to 4 March 2025.

Between 16 May and 15 August 2023, despite being suspended, the man continued consulting with patients and issued 147 prescriptions, including Schedule 4 medicines, to 96 patients. Acting on a complaint received from a pharmacy, Ahpra launched an investigation and charged the man with four counts of holding himself out as a registered practitioner.

He pleaded not guilty and a trial commenced in the Perth Magistrates’ Court on 21 July this year. He pleaded guilty to all charges part-way through the trial and the case was listed for sentencing. He was convicted and fined in the same court on 18 August.

In sentencing, Magistrate Sandra De Maio noted that patients were not charged for the prescriptions and there was no evidence of patient harm. But De Maio did also note that having been registered for approximately 48 years, the man would have been well aware of his professional obligations, and he fully understood he was suspended.

De Maio found that the man showed “no expression of genuine remorse” for his actions. He also said: “Medical practitioners need to be sent a strong message of the importance of strict compliance with the National Law.” The man did not attend the sentencing hearing.

“Suspensions of practitioners are only imposed when a Board has formed a reasonable belief that a practitioner’s conduct poses a serious risk to patients,” Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner said.

“Ahpra takes these matters seriously in the interest of patient safety and will take strong action when we find evidence of a practitioner ignoring a suspension to continue working.”

Anyone with concerns about the registration status of a practitioner can check the Register of practitioners on the Ahpra website or contact Ahpra on 1300 419 495.

Image credit: iStock.com/Doucefleur