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Case Number: 2014/00315189
Findings Date: 9 August 2024
Magistrate: Joan Baptie
CORONIAL LAW | cause and manner of death; cardiac arrhythmia; Torsades de Pointes; medical prescription of methadone (Physeptone tablets); appropriateness of dosage, induction rate and medical supervision of methadone prescription; application to Pharmaceutical Services Unit (“PSU”)/Pharmaceutical Regulatory Unit (“PRU”) for authority to prescribe methadone; responsibilities, objectives, functions and policies of the PSU/PRU; referral pursuant to Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW)
To the NSW Ministry of Health
1. In respect of the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Unit and the Medical Committee, it is appropriate that the requirements for applications for authority to prescribe Physeptone be examined, particularly with regard to the threshold of 400mg as the oral morphine equivalent daily dose (‘oMEDD’) to be reached before an application is escalated. Additionally, consideration should be given to examining the appropriate information that should be sought from the prescriber about the patient’s level of tolerance for Physeptone when applying for authority to prescribe.
2. The NSW Ministry of Health consider what steps should be taken to educate doctors about the existence and the role of the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Unit, with respect to applying for an authority to prescribe and supply drugs of addiction where required under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966.
30 Jan 2025