Commons doctor accused on drugs

[bongme]

hi

Tuesday May 21, 2002

By Helen Studd

A DOCTOR for the House of Commons prescribed Viagra, the heroin substitute methadone and other controlled drugs to a patient without performing the necessary health checks, the General Medical Council was told yesterday.

James Muir, 58, whose surgery opposite the Houses of Parliament has a patient list including Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, and William Hague, the former Conservative Party leader, is accused of offering the drugs on three occasions to undercover reporters.

Dr Muir, who denies serious professional misconduct, was said to have been first recorded prescribing Viagra to a reporter posing as an assistant to a wealthy Saudi sheikh on a tape hidden in a laptop at his surgery. He was later said to have been videoed discussing with a reporter a “retainer” to guarantee the continuing supply of illicit prescriptions of diamorphine.

Dr Muir, of Central London, admits four charges relating to the fabrication of medical conditions on certificates, not conducting health checks before prescribing medicines, and writing out medical certificates from people he had not seen.

The hearing continues.

Bongme