A psychiatrist accused of putting patients at risk

A psychiatrist accused of putting patients at risk by over-prescribing heroin substitute Methadone was today (THURS) cleared of all charges against him.

Terence Watts was said to have abused his professional position to hand out more than five times the recommended dose to drug addicts.

The GMC had heard how five patients travelled more than 100 miles from their homes in Newport and Swansea to Watts’ private clinic in London for the prescriptions.

It was alleged that he risked flooding the streets of south Wales with super-strength Methadone by giving the patients massive amounts which could be sold on by the addicts.

But Dr Watts was today cleared of serious professional misconduct after explaining that the five patients were longterm addicts in steady jobs who were merely collecting maintenance prescriptions to stop them suffering withdrawal.

The GMC had heard how the case came to light when police in South Wales noticed Dr Watts’ name continually cropping up on the controlled drugs registers at local chemists.

It emerged that five patients were regularly visiting him at the London Institute in Earls Court where Dr Watts would supply up to two weeks worth of the drugs instead of the normal two days.

Zoe Johnson, for the GMC, said the psychiatrist ran the risk that the patients would sell the Methadone to fellow addicts.

But he was cleared of the charges after revealing that all five were older than 35 and could afford their treatment without having to make extra money.

Dr Watts was also cleared of making insufficient examinations of patients after a fellow doctor told the hearing the psychiatrist’s treatment was a ‘bold’ and responsible way of dealing with heroin addicts.

South African-born Dr Watts, of March Court, Warwick Drive, Barnes, looked relieved when GMC chairwoman Mary Clark-Glass announced he was cleared of inappropriate and irresponsible prescribing and abusing his professional position.

He left the hearing without comment.

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