Dr Sara Selina McDonald

The Medical Council of NSW is aware of recent comments made on 2GB’s Ben Fordham Show about the Council’s interactions with Dr Sara Selina McDonald.

The Council believes it is important the public are aware of the following facts:

• Earlier this year Dr Sara McDonald was investigated and interviewed by the NSW Pharmaceutical Services Unit (PSU) after it uncovered serious issues related to her prescribing of medicinal cannabis. The PSU is an independent body within the NSW Ministry of Health. Its primary goal is to ensure the safe and regulated use of medicines and poisons in NSW. Its objectives include protecting the public from the potential harms of medicines and improving the safety and quality of medicine use within the community.
• The PSU referred Dr McDonald to the Medical Council which held an immediate action panel in July 2024 as a result of concerns detailed in the PSU’s investigation report. Dr McDonald was provided notice of the panel hearing and was accompanied by a legal representative at the panel hearing. Dr McDonald was given the opportunity to respond to the issues and concerns identified in the PSU investigation report.
• The Council’s panel found aspects of Dr McDonald’s practice represented an unacceptable risk to patients. The panel advised Dr McDonald it was placing interim conditions on her registration to protect the health and safety of the public.
• When the Council takes interim immediate action to protect the health and safety of the public, it must provide written reasons to the practitioner which includes identifying the areas of risk and harm and reasons why the action is appropriate.
• The interim conditions placed on Dr McDonald’s registration included these requirements: that the practitioner does not practice medicine by telehealth, does not prescribe S8 drugs of addiction, does not prescribe medicinal cannabis and participates in a performance assessment.
• Dr McDonald had the right to appeal the Council’s decision to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) and she was advised of this right when notified of the outcome and provided written reasons. NCAT is independent of the Council and it conducts a review of the decision. A practitioner can present new and updated information about their practice during an appeal including any changes that they have made to their practice to respond to the issues which resulted in the earlier interim immediate action. Dr McDonald did not exercise this right of appeal and chose to discontinue practising medicine.
• Dr McDonald is not prevented from practising again as a medical practitioner.

The Medical Council notes there are medical practitioners who prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients including via telehealth in New South Wales. The vast majority are doing so appropriately and in accordance with the Medical Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct.

However where practitioners prescribe addictive medicines with the potential for dependence inappropriately the Medical Council must take action to ensure the public is protected.

The Council will not be making any further public comments at this time.

About us

The Medical Council of NSW works in collaboration with the Health Care Complaints Commission to receive and manage complaints about registered medical practitioners and medical students in NSW.

The Council’s paramount obligation is to protect the health and safety of the NSW public. We work with medical practitioners whose conduct, performance or health may represent a risk to the public.

The Council does this by responding to and assessing complaints and notifications, promoting compliance with professional standards and delivering programs to ensure doctors provide safe care to their patients. This can include placing conditions on a medical practitioner’s registration to support them to meet expected professional standards of care. These conditions are not intended to be punitive but are protective of public safety.