A GP who used several patients to access codeine and diazepam for his personal use, has been banned over the scheme designed to “feed his own addiction”.

Under the arrangement, the Melbourne doctor would write prescriptions for painkillers and diazepam for patients, who would fill the script and return the medications to him.

During a period of two years he asked six patients he felt he had a “good relationship with” for favours to access the drugs, according to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. 

“Not only did he continue to practise while clearly addicted to codeine, putting the safety of all of his patients at risk, but he also involved a number of his patients in his scheme,” the tribunal wrote in its finding.