A family GP who treated patients after being suspended for “recycling” old drugs has been struck off the medical register.
Dr Robert Briggs was supposed to destroy a supply of diamorphine and haloperidol after the death of a cancer sufferer, but instead flouted regulations and gave them to another terminally ill patient in 2004.
When police raided his surgery in Hythe, Hampshire, they discovered a collection of dusty syringes and out-of-date drugs.
Dr Briggs had his registration suspended in 2005 after the General Medical Council found him guilty of failing to maintain a drugs register and safe custody of drugs.
But despite the ruling, Dr Briggs went on to examine two patients and issue them with prescriptions.
At Southampton Crown Court, the doctor was convicted on three counts of giving prescriptions when not authorised to do so, and ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work.
According to a fitness to practise panel, Dr Briggs had failed to show any remorse for ignoring his suspension and there was no evidence that his behaviour would be “remediable”.
The panel stated: “Dr Briggs has demonstrated not only a disregard for the orders of his professional body, but also of his professional requirements.”
Copyright Press Association 2009
