A doctor convicted of committing fraud to feed his drug habit says he was simply treating himself for depression.
Dr Maldev Keshvara, aged 43, of Huntly, was convicted in the Hamilton District Court last week after admitting he had fraudulently used documents to obtain morphine and pethidine.
But Keshvara saidlast night that he had simply been treating his chronic depression with the drugs.
"I have not done anything wrong. I was depressed and treated myself."
He would not make any further comment.
Keshvara told police that he was "burned-out, isolated, under work pressure and stressed."
The Ugandan-born, English-educated doctor arrived in New Zealand in 1986.
Police reports indicate that since his arrival he had regularly administered drugs to himself, particularly morphine.
He was suspended by the Medical Council for four months in 1987 and has stopped practising at least twice because of his condition.
The council recommended this year that Keshvara be banned from prescribing opiates.
But about the same time he began using a colleague's prescription forms and forging a signature to obtain drugs from Hamilton pharmacists.
He would then inject himself with the drugs.
In a written statement, the council told Keshvara's patients that there was little likelihood, and no evidence, they had been affected by his opiate use.
The council is monitoring more than 50 doctors who are addicted to drugs or alcohol in New Zealand.
Most of them are permitted to practise while battling their addictions.
Council registrar Georgina Jones said she believed there might be more doctors who had not yet come to the council's attention, especially alcoholics, because society seemed to have a greater tolerance for alcohol abuse.
