The doctor being alleged for counterfeiting scripts and getting the weight loss drug Reductil (sibutramine) appears before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal on Thursday.

The name and identification of the doctor has not been disclosed. She was convicted the last year by a district court for carrying out unprofessional activities.

Her first case of forging script is dated back to 2007, when she as a trainee intern in a general practice signed the script with the name of the doctor. She told the tribunal that she used the updated script at a later time when working as a house officer in a hospital and doing part-time jobs. She asserted that she shared the drug with the colleagues, which has a side-effect of insomnia.

She was charged with two cases of forgery; one of attempt to forgery and another is using forged script intentionally to obtain sibutramine.

Harry Waalkens QC, her counsel defended her by saying that she was upset by an event, in which one of her fatigued colleagues committed a serious judgment mistake.

“The doctor readily admitted her offences, cooperated with the Medical Council and participated in the disciplinary process in an encouraging and positive manner”, said David Carden, Chairman.

He added that taking care of her future, she has just been punished with compulsory conditions to be placed on her practice for two years by Medical Council. A three month suspension will be followed if she doesn’t adhere to the Medical Council conditions. She was fined with an amount worth $5000.