A FORMER Corowa doctor found two years ago to have self-prescribed drugs of dependence and restricted substances including Stilnox, Panadeine Forte, Endone, Oxycontin and Valium, has had suspension of her medical registration lifted.

The Civil and Administrative Tribunal of NSW last week ruled Dr Nancy Magdy Fayez Iskander’s registration be reinstated with eight conditions.

Iskander was a junior doctor at the Corowa Medical Centre when her licence was suspended in February 2013.

The Medical Council of NSW had found her to be a risk to the public as she was impaired by untreated depression and substance abuse.

In February this year, the tribunal heard a history of back pain, depression and sleeping problems had led Iskander in April 2012 to create a medical record in the name of a family member at the Corowa practice.

The Health Care Complaints Commission alleged she used the record to prescribe herself schedule 4D drugs or restricted substances; and schedule 8 drugs.

“When I started using (the family member’s) record and realised how easy it was, I kept the record,” Iskander told the tribunal.

At one stage she was taking up to six Stilnox when she couldn’t sleep.

She admitted to once taking prescription drugs while on-call and had no recollection of what was discussed with colleagues at the time.

And in November 2012, she went home at lunch for “a nap” after taking five or six Stilnox. When she did not return, the practice manager and police found her semi conscious and took her to hospital.

The same month, using the patient file she had created, Iskander prescribed Rilutek for an overseas patient she was told had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis that she said her sister took to the patient in Egypt.

A month later, she told her practice manager of the patient file she had created and asked her to destroy it.

Iskander was stood down on December 14, 2012.

The complaints commission lodged four complaints against Iskander for false records, not properly maintained records, professional misconduct and impairment in relation to depression but not drug of dependence.

She has since regularly consulted a psychiatrist, psychologist and GP.

The tribunal last week ordered her ban be lifted with conditions recorded on her registration.

They include urine screening for two years, ethics education, participation in Victoria doctors health program, supervision for a year, not prescribe or have access to S4D or S8 drugs, not supply or prescribe medications to her family and not self-prescribe or self-administer unless on the prescription of her treating health practitioners.

Iskander must work in a hospital setting within 100km of Melbourne for a year and only work up to 30 hours a week. She may not work night shift or be on-call for 12 months.