Possibly prescribing excessive doses of morphine has resulted in Sydney GP Lamorna Osborne, aged 57, having her registration suspended.

Two patients who she had been treating for eight years each were in palliative care at a Sydney aged care facility. The decision to cease active treatment had been agreed in consultation with both families.

The first resident was aged 64 and had been in the care facility for 11 years. She had suffered a stroke, was in a ‘vegetative state’, had gangrene in one toe and a chest infection. Over the four days before her death she received 370 mg of morphine.

The second patient was aged 92, suffered Alzheimer’s with aggression, osteoporosis and had deteriorated such that she could not swallow. The four days before her death she received 600 mg of morphine. A 60 mg dose prescribed for this patient caused concern for a registered nurse who reported Dr Osborne to the Health care Complaints Tribunal despite also stating “she was a pretty good doctor”.

The patient’s daughter supported Dr Osborne at the Tribunal.

Dr Osborne stated after the tribunal finding: “My compassion is with the families who have been dragged through the investigation, and certainly the nursing staff, who got hauled over the coals. It’s been a tough two years”.