Addicts 'blackmail' GPs

Addicts can pressurise doctors to give them a fix

GPs regularly face "blackmail" from drug addicts threatening to commit crimes if they refuse to treat them, the British Medical Association has heard.

Cases where young addicts say they will steal to get a heroin fix are common, said Dr Eric Rose, a GP in Milton Keynes and senior member of the BMA's GP committee.

And he claimed GPs were being "thrown to the wolves" by the government and health bosses when things go wrong.

Some doctors do get into difficulties when they deal with drug abuse

Dr John Chisholm, BMA GP committee

He referred to the case of Carlisle GP Dr John Gordon who was arrested earlier this year after an addict patient died.

Dr Gordon was not charged and police dropped the case after an investigation lasting several months.

Dr Rose said: "This was a doctor with a vocation for helping drug addicts.

"Despite this, some people in the health authority were all to willing to throw him to the wolves."

He called for additional funds, training and facilities for GPs to help them deal with drug addicts.

Guidance needed

Police investigated Dr John Gordon

Dr Tony Calland told the conference criteria were needed before GPs prescribe methadone and described the case of a GP struck off for professional serious misconduct following allegations about his prescribing of the drug.

Chairman of the BMA's GPs' committee Dr John Chisholm said: "Some doctors do get into difficulties when they deal with drug abuse."

But some doctors expressed concerns that putting conditions of extra training and funding on GPs before they prescribe methadone would prevent them treating addicts who desperately need help.

Dr Jane Milson said: "If we do not treat patients, they will not receive any treatment at all."

The conference overwhelmingly supported the call for GPs to have extra training and specialist support before they prescribe methadone.