Pharmacist Permanently Loses License After Diluting Antibiotics

The job of a pharmacist should be taken seriously. After all, pharmacists take an oath to protect public health and welfare. When they do not do their job properly, they risk causing serious injury or even death to a patient.

While accidents do happen from time to time, some pharmacists purposely alter the medications they fill. This can lead to serious ramifications for not only the patient, but the pharmacist as well.

An Ohio pharmacist has had his license revoked permanently after he was caught diluting intravenous antibiotics. He claims that he did so in order to save money. The 28-year-old man forfeited his pharmacist license and will never be allowed to work as a pharmacist again.

The pharmacist pled guilty to several charges, including tampering with evidence and illegal processing of drug documents. He faces 20 charges, but 10 charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea. According to the pharmacy board, the pharmacist administered 105 vials of one antibiotic even though the pharmacy ordered just nine vials. In several other cases, the man administered more vials than the pharmacy had in its possession. The infractions occurred between January 1 and February 23, 2017 while he worked at Select Specialty Hospital Regional Pharmacy.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy suspended his license in February 2017. The man also faces five years of probation and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to undergo mental health treatment.

Consequences of Diluted Antibiotics

The goal of antibiotics is to kill the bacteria that is causing you to feel ill. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate dose based on the type of bacteria, any other medications you are taking, your age, weight and other factors. It is important to take antibiotics at the right dose for the appropriate amount of time in order to get the full effect and ensure that the bacteria are killed.

While taking too much of an antibiotic and overdosing can cause death, taking too little of a dosage can have dire consequences as well. If the dose is too weak, it won’t kill the infection. This can cause it to spread and get worse.

That’s what can happen when antibiotics are diluted. While the pharmacist likely thought he was doing a good deed by trying to save the pharmacy money, he did it at the expense of others. Patients could have experienced a worsened condition by taking the diluted antibiotics.

Keep Your License with Help From a Tampa Pharmacist License and Pharmacy Permit Lawyer 

Patients depend on pharmacists to prescribe them the right medications at the correct dosages. When errors occur—whether they are accidental or intentional—a patient’s life is at risk. A pharmacist can face warnings, probation, fines and license loss for such actions.

If you are a Florida pharmacist facing disciplinary actions from the state board, seek legal help before you do anything. The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. has 30 years of experience representing pharmacists and other licensed professionals. Contact the office at (813) 968-6633 to schedule a consultation.

Resource:

vindy.com/news/2018/mar/22/pharmacist-pleads-guilty-diluting-antibiotics-lose/