September 7, 2012
Aussie Doctor No More: Banned for Prescribing Gay Castration Cure
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A doctor from Sydney, Australia, who is also a member of a conservative Christian sect, has been banned from practicing medicine because he prescribed a chemical castration drug to a teenager to "cure" his homosexuality, the Global Post reported.
In 2008, Dr. Mark Craddock, 75, prescribed an unidentified 18-year-old patient Cyprostat during a 10-minute consultation after he came out as gay.
Cyprostat lowers libido by reducing testosterone and is usually prescribed to males who have sexual disorders and sexual deviations. It is also used as a treatment for prostate cancer.
Both Craddock and the patient, who resides in New Zealand, were members of the Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship sect. The teen allegedly wrote to Australia's Health Care Complaints Commission and said that when he announced that he was gay, a church leader told him: "There's medication you can go on."
The teen wrote, "He recommended that I speak to Dr Craddock on the matter with a view to my being placed on medication to help me with my 'problem.'" According to Australia's TV 9 News, the doctor prescribed the young patient with five repeats of Cyprostat and did not refer him to a psychologist or explain the drug's side effects.
Gay Star News reported that a hearing held by the Medical Council of the Australian State of New South Wales found that, "Dr Craddock failed to adequately assess the patient and failed to provide appropriate medical management of the patients therapeutic needs." The council also said that the doctor was guilty of "unsatisfactory processional conduct. He was severely reprimanded and practice restrictions were placed on his registration."
According to the Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship's website, there are over 40,000 members "located in over 300 local assemblies in 19 countries." The group's site also says members of "the Exclusive Brethren believe strongly in the traditional family unit. Marriage is held in the greatest honour, as one of God's original thoughts of blessing for the human race."
