A Melbourne GP under the coercive control of her family has been suspended for six months for treating them when she wasn't supposed to.
The Medical Board of Australia referred the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) over allegations she illegally treated family members including her mother, father, two sons, grandfather and ex-husband.
The doctor, known only as AEB, said she was under pressure to treat family members.
She also inappropriately prescribed pethidine, an opioid pain-relief medicine, to a family member for 20 months without a permit.
VCAT heard evidence that AEB had experienced pressure from a coercive family, which could be considered family violence and was a mitigating factor.
AEB also submitted evidence of counselling, including insight and development, which had occurred since she stopped providing medical care to family members.
The tribunal found AEB's behaviour amounted to five instances of professional misconduct and three instances of unprofessional conduct.
VCAT ordered the doctor to be reprimanded, her registration suspended for six months, and that she be required to undertake mentoring for 12 months.
The tribunal also reflected on the risks of doctors treating their family members, which has long been recognised as problematic.
AEB's misconduct included:
* prescribed pethidine to one family member for 20 months without a permit
* provided medical care to her father for more than 14 years from 2004, including inappropriate prescribing
* provided medical care to her mother for more than 15 years from 2004
* provided medical care to her son in January 2019
* provided medical care to another son in June 2017, and again in December 2017
* provided medical care to her husband in November 2014
*provided medical care to her grandfather between 2004 and 2011.
