Doctor might apply to resume practice

Press, 19 April 1986, Page 9

Doctor might apply to resume practice

The Christchurch doctor found guilty of stealing drugs he had prescribed to a terminally ill patient is likely to seek periCfesion to be allowed to resume practice. Dr Keith Cameron was convicted by a jury yesterday of stealing 124 methadone tablets.

His lawyer, Mr Nigel Hampton, said an appeal to lift a suspension imposed by the Medical Council last year was likely. However, any decision to appeal against the conviction would be made after Dr Cameron was sentenced on May 6.

The council’s chairman, Dr Stewart Alexander, said any doctor who applied to have a suspension lifted would have health and circumstances at the

time considered. If Dr Cameron applied to have his suspension lifted this could be discussed at the council’s next meeting, in June, he said. The council would have to be satisfied that there was no danger to the public if the doctor was reinstated, said Dr Alexander. If any crime committed by a doctor carried a

possible sentence of three months or more imprisonment, the council had almost unlimited power to set conditions on the doctor’s practice for three years. The doctor could be required to work in an institution, to accept directions on rehabilitation or retraining, or be supervised by a senior doctor, he said.