A Nova Scotia doctor who admitted to prescribing thousands of opioid pills for one patient is a step closer to resuming her practice.
Dr. Sarah Jones was charged in the spring of 2016 with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a narcotic, trafficking oxycodone, fraud and drawing a document without authority. She was later acquitted.
The allegations emerged in October 2015, when she was said to have prescribed 50,000 oxycodone and OxyNeo pills over an 18-month period.
READ MORE: Trial for Dr. Sarah Jones in Bridgewater, N.S. adjourns until June
Jones has now reached a settlement agreement with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Under the terms of the agreement, Jones will not face further suspension.
“We recognize that Jones is a young medical practitioner who has a lot to contribute. As a committee, we think she should have a chance to do that,” the college’s agreement reads.
WATCH: High profile drug investigation results in ‘not guilty’ verdict for Nova Scotia doctor
In the agreement, Jones says she was “in over her head” trying to help a patient control pain. However, the college notes there was no explanation for her making false and misleading statements to the college and the prescription-monitoring program.
READ MORE: Crown withdraws trafficking charges against Nova Scotia doctor
Before returning to practice, Jones will need to complete a competence assessment, undergo counselling, and be assessed by her family doctor.
She will also need to undergo a drug test, and won’t be allowed to prescribe narcotics for at least two years.