College of Physicians and Surgeons reprimands Sheet Harbour doctor

A Sheet Harbour doctor already under drug-prescribing restrictions dating back to 2008 has been disciplined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia for continuing to write prescriptions for narcotics.

Dr. Bradley Atkinson has agreed to a reprimand and to a continued ban on prescribing narcotics and other controlled substances, according to a disciplinary decision released by the college.

In its Nov. 20 decision, the college said Atkinson was "flippant" and didn't appreciate the importance of the college's discipline process. It also accused him of poor record keeping and ordered him to take a record-keeping course within the next three months.

The doctor faced two complaints. In the first, Atkinson prescribed a 60-year-old patient Tylenol #3 in 2014 while restricted from doing so.

His response to the complaint was "it was not comparable to giving 300 Tylenol #3 to a 19-year-old," according to the college

The second complaint was made in April when Atkinson wrote an order for morphine for a patient who was "actively dying." Of that incident, Atkinson told the college he "failed to understand the thought process when it turns this compassionate act into a complaint."

2008 restrictions

In 2008, Atkinson had his medical licence restricted after the college said they had concerns about his knowledge and skills when it came to treating patients with narcotics.

The restrictions were for one year. After that, Dr. Atkinson was responsible for getting a letter of support from the college so he could apply to Health Canada to have his privileges returned. The college said he never did that.

Atkinson has also been ordered to post a notice of the restrictions in a place where all patients can see it at his office and anywhere he may be practising medicine.

The college said the restrictions will continue until Atkinson can prove he has taken steps to "improve his knowledge and skills" on the use of controlled substances.