A Melbourne-based general practitioner, Stewart Mawdsley, is facing allegations of professional misconduct before the Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal following charges of drug possession and driving offenses in August and September 2022. Mawdsley pleaded guilty to all charges and received a $1000 fine without conviction.
According to tribunal documents, Mawdsley was required to notify the Medical Board of Australia of these matters within seven days, but failed to do so. The board only became aware of the criminal proceedings months later when informed by Victoria Police. The offenses included possession of methamphetamine and ketamine, speeding, and driving without a license.
The tribunal heard that the Medical Board of Australia took immediate action in March 2023, imposing conditions on Mawdsley's registration, including urine and hair drug screening and mandatory attendance with treating practitioners. These conditions remained in place for three months, during which he was permitted to continue working as a GP.
In a significant development, Mawdsley relocated to Canada in June 2023, where he was subsequently allowed to practice as a GP. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia permitted his registration in October 2023.
However, tribunal documents also revealed a history of concerns regarding Mawdsley's conduct. The board had previously served him with drug screening conditions for 12 months starting in December 2017, following an investigation that included an unexplained presence of Valium at his clinic, missing medication, suspected intentional dilution of a urine sample, and a hair sample testing positive for meth.
Mawdsley's own submission to the tribunal indicated that his Canadian registration was changed to 'temporarily inactive' in August 2026, following a 'single use relapse' in July. The Medical Board of Australia is reportedly unaware of the specifics of this recent incident.
Lawyers representing the Medical Board of Australia have called for a reprimand and a three-year disqualification from applying for medical registration in Australia, expressing concern that doctors facing serious disciplinary proceedings might attempt to evade harsher consequences by practicing in other jurisdictions temporarily.
Mawdsley's barrister acknowledged the drug possession and driving offenses but noted that the specifics of any drug use in Canada were not formally documented beyond his client's voluntary admission. The tribunal is expected to deliver its decision at a later date.