Papakura GP Rhys Cullen has been found guilty by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal of excessively prescribing a drug commonly used to make methamphetamine.
He remains temporarily suspended from practising while the tribunal considers the penalties it will impose on him.
Dr Cullen could be permanently struck off
the register, and be compelled to pay hearing costs and a fine of up to $30,000.
The tribunal yesterday upheld two charges of professional misconduct against him over prescriptions for more than 46,000 Sudomyl tablets over a two-year period. The tablets contain pseudoephedrine, a precursor in the manufacture of pure methamphetamine.
Tribunal chairman Bruce Corkill QC said the facts heard over the two-week hearing amounted to malpractice, negligence and discredited the profession.
The hearing in Auckland had heard how a pharmacist described Dr Cullen's prescription as "massively out of line" with other GPs.
Dr Cullen maintained that he procured the drug for research purposes.
The tribunal had heard from Peter Caccioppoli, chairman of the Papakura Urban Maori Authority which ran the medical practice Dr Cullen had worked in since June 2002. Mr Caccioppoli said Dr Cullen had wanted to run a mystery shopper study looking at the discrimination chemists had towards Maori.
"Sudomyl was chosen because we both felt it was likely to draw out any discrimination from the chemists."
Last Thursday, Dr Cullen's lawyers Jeremy Sutton and Peter Webb withdrew from the case, despite objections from Dr Cullen, citing an inability to "properly represent" him. He surprised the tribunal by electing not to give evidence.
Counsel for the Professional Conduct Committee, Colin Carruthers QC, asked for Dr Cullen's registration to be cancelled, and that he pay for costs.
Mr Carruthers also said Dr Cullen should be fined the $30,000 maximum fine available to the tribunal.
Dr Cullen said afterwards: "I think my behaviour was probably quite foolish."
