Pharmacist’s License Suspended For Drug Diversion
Pharmacists have to act in a moral manner at all times. They handle drugs on a daily basis and therefore need to be ethical in their dealings. This means not diverting medications for their own use.
However, the urge to steal prescription drugs is strong when a person has constant, unrestricted access to them. A pharmacist from Iowa knows this first hand. He recently turned himself in to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy after admitting that he has diverted drugs for his own use for the past six years.
As a result, the state has barred the man from practicing as a pharmacist. He is even barred from entering his former pharmacy, Summit Pharmacy, which is located at 300 W. Burlington Avenue in Fairfield.
The pharmacist claims that he has diverted many controlled substances from the pharmacy for his own personal use. It is unknown if this act affected any of the pharmacy customers who used Summit Pharmacy for their prescriptions over the past six years. So far, no criminal charges have been filed against the man.
The pharmacist’s father owns Summit Pharmacy. As part of an agreement with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, he has agreed to name a new pharmacist in charge of the pharmacy and change all of the locks at the pharmacy so that his son is barred access. In addition, Summit Pharmacy’s license has been changed to “restricted” status so that the pharmacist cannot enter the building. The man has also been barred from remotely accessing pharmacy records or software.
What is Drug Diversion?
Drug diversion means illegally distributing or misusing prescription medications that are originally intended for legitimate medical purposes. This can occur in various ways, such as:
- Theft or fraud. This involves stealing prescription medications from healthcare facilities, pharmacies, or patients.
- Prescription forgery. This means falsifying prescriptions to obtain medications.
- Doctor shopping. This is when people visit multiple doctors in an attempt to obtain multiple prescriptions for the same medication.
- Healthcare provider misconduct. This occurs when healthcare professionals prescribe medications for non-medical reasons or sell prescriptions.
- Patient misuse. This happens when patients sell or give their prescribed medications to others.
- Pharmacy fraud. Pharmacies dispensing medications without proper prescriptions or for inappropriate purposes.
Keep Your License With Help From a Tampa Pharmacist License & Pharmacy Permit Lawyer
Pharmacists need to act in the best interests of their patients as well as the pharmacy they work for. Diverting drugs is not only immoral but can also be considered a crime as well.
If you are facing licensing issues, seek legal help from a Tampa pharmacist license & pharmacy permit lawyer from The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. Having a license taken away or denied by the state board is a serious matter, but with my experience, I can help you get a favorable outcome. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling (813) 968-6633.
Source:
iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/for-six-years-iowa-pharmacist-stole-drugs-undetected-then-turned-himself-in/
