BMJ  2004;328:483 (28 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7438.483

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Seven doctors accused of over-prescribing heroin

London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Seven drug addiction specialists were accused by the General Medical Council this week of excessive prescribing of heroin and other drugs, and inadequate surveillance of patients, in what will be the biggest disciplinary case in the history of the GMC.

The seven doctors worked at the Stapleford Centre, one of Britain's biggest private addiction clinics, with branches in Belgravia, London, and Stapleford Tawney, Essex. More than half of the GMC's charges relate to the founder of the Stapleford Centre, Dr Colin Brewer. The other six doctors, three of whom still work at the clinic, are Anthony Haines, Hugh Kindness, Nicolette Mervitz, Martin O'Rawe, Ronald Tovey, and Timothy Willocks.

The case opened on Monday but was adjourned until September owing to the ill health of Dr Brewer.

In addition to offering detoxification services, the Stapleford Centre's doctors prescribed heroin and methadone for the maintenance of addicts who they consider are not . . . [Full text of this article]

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