A doctor who prescribed chemical castration drugs to a teenaged man who sought a ‘cure’ for his homosexuality has now been banned from practicing as a GP in Sydney.

In 2008, Mark Christopher James Craddock wrote a prescription to an 18-year-old for the drug Cyprostat, which can work as a ‘chemical castration’.

Both Craddock, now aged 75, and the teenager were members of the secretive and anti-homosexuality religious sect the Exclusive Brethren at the time, but the younger man has now left the church.

At the time, the 18-year-old had told senior church members that he was gay, to which they replied “there’s medication you can go on.”

The Medical Council of NSW describes Craddock’s unsatisfactory conduct in its decision:

“Patient A was brought to Dr Craddock seeking help to cure his homosexuality. Dr Craddock failed to take a medical history or perform a proper examination for Patient A. He failed to refer Patient A for counselling or psychological support and he prescribed for him a medication which was not clinically indicated. The medication, Cyprostat, can be used to treat advanced prostate cancer or to manage sexual deviation, by the reduction of testosterone. Dr Craddock prescribed Cyprostat without obtaining an adequate sexual history, without discussing potential side effects and without arranging a follow up appointment. His consultation with Patient A took place in this home rather than in his surgery.”

Its decision: “The Committee is satisfied that in the interests of public health and safety and to foster confidence and appropriate standards in the medical profession, Dr Craddock should not practice [as a GP].”

Craddock himself now admits he should not have prescribed the medicine.