Doctor not present at inquiry into alleged misconduct

A doctor who allegedly prescribed antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and sleeping tablets to people who were not his patients was yesterday the subject of a disciplinary inquiry.

It is alleged Dr Mohamed Elhassan, while working as a senior house officer in the Cavan-Monaghan Mental Health Service in 2013, wrote prescriptions for four people who were not his patients, nor patients of the service. These included prescriptions for Xanax, a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety; Mirtazapine, an antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorders; Nitrazepam, a benzodiazepine used to treat severe anxiety and insomnia; and Zopiclone, also used to treat insomnia.

It is also alleged Dr Elhassan interfered with the therapeutic management of a woman, Patient E, between January and June 2013, prescribing Xanax to this person, who was suffering from depression and had a history of addiction to benzodiazepines.