Cork doctor volunteers to stop prescribing pending medical council inquiry

A CORK GP on sick leave has voluntarily given an undertaking to the High Court not to prescribe sedatives and tranquillisers to patients pending the outcome of an inquiry by the Irish Medical Council into his prescribing policy.

The Irish Medical Council confirmed Dr David Murphy has voluntarily undertaken to both the Medical Council and the High Court not to prescribe benzodiazepines and opiates pending an adjudication by the Medical Council of allegations regarding his prescribing.

A spokeswoman for the Irish Medical Council declined to specify either the number or exact nature of the allegations made to it regarding the prescribing of benzodiazepines and opiates by Dr Murphy, who has a clinic in Gurranebraher on the north side of Cork city.

Earlier this month the HSE South confirmed it had written to Dr Murphy’s General Medical Services/medical card patients – who number several hundred – to advise them Dr Murphy had decided to temporarily close his practice at Cathedral Road in Gurranebraher.

Last week the HSE South wrote again to Dr Murphy’s GMS/medical card patients and advised them a locum had been put in place to provide medical services to them following the temporary closure of Dr Murphy’s practice.

A spokeswoman for the HSE confirmed yesterday that the normal practice in such cases is for the HSE Primary Care Unit to liaise with the GP to enable the locum obtain access to medical records of his or her medical card patients.

According to the HSE, there are a number of medical card patients who have been supported through Dr Murphy’s practice and who have particular medication requirements, and all patients’ individual circumstances are being addressed by the HSE and the locum.

The Irish Times was unable to contact Dr Murphy yesterday for comment in relation to his decision to close his practice temporarily and his undertaking given to both the Irish Medical Council and the High Court regarding prescribing certain types of drugs and medications.