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Pharmacist Registrant 4 (Nov 23, 2017)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to voluntarily suspend the registration as a pharmacist effective November 23, 2017. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant's name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4) of the Health Professions Act.


February 20, 2015
(November 23, 2017 - Registration Suspended)

Pharmacist Registrant 4 has satisfied the terms of an agreement reached with the Inquiry Committee dated April 1, 2010. Limits and conditions on pharmacist registrant’s registration as a pharmacist have now been removed. The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to 39.3(4) of the Health Professions Act.


April 1, 2010
(February 20, 2015 - Limits and conditions removed)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to Section 36 of the Health Professions Act, has reached an agreement with pharmacist registrant to place limits and/or conditions on his registration as a pharmacist effective April 1, 2010. The agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant's name has been withheld pursuant to 39.3(4) of the Health Professions Act.

Robertson, Chadwick Aaron (Nov 22, 2017)

On a series of occasions during 2015, Chadwick Aaron Robertson (the “Registrant”) made comments to LC, an individual posing as an athlete, about the use of banned drugs and their suitability for the purpose. The Registrant provided LC a training protocol that was never put into operation. Unbeknownst to the Registrant, LC was part of an “undercover” investigation and the Registrant’s meetings and other dealings with LC were being videotaped. An edited version of the footage was ultimately broadcast over the Internet.  The College considers, and the Registrant concedes, that this conduct reflected negatively on the Registrant and the profession of pharmacy in British Columbia. It constitutes professional misconduct, a serious matter pursuant to section 26 of the Health Professions Act

For the above conduct, pursuant to section 36(1) of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee has reached a consent agreement with the Registrant for the following terms and undertakings:

  • That the Registrant’s registration as a Full Pharmacist be suspended for a period of six (6) months, to commence on November 22, 2017;
  • That the Registrant pay a $10,000.00 fine to the College no later than November 22, 2018;
  • That a letter of reprimand be placed permanently on the College’s register;
  • That he appear before a panel of the Inquiry Committee for a verbal reprimand;
  • That he successfully complete the ProBE Program on Professional/Problem-Based Ethics for healthcare professionals no later than November 22, 2018; and
  • That he thoroughly review relevant legislation and complete the College’s Code of Ethics Educational Tutorial and sign declarations acknowledging his understanding and compliance with legislative and ethical requirements.
Pharmacist Registrant 33 (Sep 11, 2017)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, has reached an agreement with the pharmacist registrant to not engage in the practice of pharmacy. The agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant's name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4) of the Health Professions Act.

Ratansi, Elishah (May 13, 2017)

Elishah Ratansi has satisfied terms of an agreement reached with the Inquiry Committee on July 6, 2015. Limits and conditions on the Elishah Ratansi’s registration as a pharmacist have now been removed.


August 12, 2016
(May 13, 2017 – Limits and conditions removed)

The Registration Committee has reinstated Ms. Ratansi’s registration as a Full/Active Pharmacist, effective August 12, 2016. Pursuant to a Consent Agreement signed on July 6, 2015, Ms. Ratansi agrees to the following limits and conditions on her practice, effective August 12, 2016:

  1. Prohibition from acting as a director for 9 months upon return to practice as a Full/Active Pharmacist; and
  2. Prohibition from acting as a pharmacy manager for 9 months upon return to practice as a Full/Active Pharmacist.

July 6, 2015
(August 12, 2016 – Registration reinstated)

Pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee has reached a Consent Agreement with Ms. Elishah Ratansi, effective July 6, 2015. This was the result of investigations conducted on a pharmacy under the management of Ms. Ratansi where several practice violations were allegedly found.  Also in the course of her employment as a pharmacist at the pharmacy in question, an illegal delivery scheme for transporting controlled substances was allegedly implemented by the management and pharmacy staff.  In light of the Inquiry Committee’s investigation and findings, Ms. Ratansi voluntarily placed her licence on non-practising status since January 1, 2015.  She agreed to the following terms in the Consent Agreement, among others:

  1. Suspension of registration as a pharmacist for six consecutive months, effective January 1, 2015. 
  2. Prohibition from acting as a director for 9 months upon return to practice as a Full/Active Pharmacist,
  3. Prohibition from acting as a pharmacy manager for 9 months upon return to practice as a Full/Active Pharmacist,
  4. Notification about this suspension will be published on the College website, pursuant to s. 39.3 of the Health Professions Act.

In the same Consent Agreement, Ms. Ratansi also agreed that she will not repeat the alleged conduct and to thoroughly review the legislation of which she was in breach.

Pharmacist Registrant 30 (May 1, 2017)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 36 of the Health Profession Act, has reached a new revised Agreement with the pharmacist registrant, whereby the Registrant consented to undertakings that include, but are not limited to:

  1. Complying with any and all treatment plans as recommended by the Registrant’s medical providers, including but not limited to the following:

    1. Regular and consistent attendance to the Registrant’s meetings with mental health team; and
       
    2. Adherence to medication regimen;

  2. Voluntarily stop working as a pharmacist and self-report to the College in the event that the Registrant’s medical condition may hinder performance and/or fitness to practice as a pharmacist;

The name of the Registrant has been withheld in accordance with section 39.3(4)(a) of the Health Professions Act for the purposes of not identifying the personal health information of the Registrant respecting the condition. The Inquiry Committee is satisfied that the undertakings will protect the public.


February 8, 2017
(May 1, 2017 - Limits and Conditions Revised)

The Inquiry Committee has reinstated pharmacist registrant’s registration which had previously been suspended for an indefinite period on December 23, 2016. Pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant whereby the Registrant consented to undertakings involving regular monitoring for fitness to practice pharmacy. The undertakings include, but are not limited to:

  1. Complying with any and all treatment plans as recommended by the Registrant’s medical providers, including but not limited to the following:

    1. Regular and consistent attendance to meetings with the Registrant’s mental health team; and
       
    2. Adherence to medication regimen;

  2. That after returning to work in pharmacy setting, on every shift of employment at any pharmacy, the Registrant will work alongside another pharmacist in good standing at all times;

     

  3. That prior to the commencement of new employment at any pharmacy, the Registrant shall disclose to the pharmacy manager the limits and conditions of this Consent Agreement and ensure that arrangements are made in the pharmacy operations to accommodate the said limits and conditions:

    1. The Registrant must ensure that the pharmacy manager and/or employer with whom the Registrant secures employment submits a written statement to the College declaring:

      1. their awareness of the limits and conditions in; and
         
      2. their obligation to contact the College if they have questions or concerns about the Registrant’s practice. This statement must be received within 48 hours of any change of employment and/or 48 hours of any change in pharmacy manager/employer.

    2. The Registrant must inform a Complaints Officer in writing or via email of  places of employment as a pharmacist and report any changes of the location of employment within 72 hours of such change.

December 23, 2016
(February 8, 2017 – Registration reinstated)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to suspend registration as a pharmacist, effective December 23, 2016. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant's name has been withheld, pursuant to s. 39.3(4) of the Health Professions Act.

Drapeau , Tyler Joshua (Apr 20, 2017)

Pursuant to section 36(1) of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (the “College”) reached a consent agreement with Tyler Joshua Drapeau (the “Registrant”) to suspend his registration as a pharmacist for a period of six months, from April 20, 2017 to October 20, 2017.

After an investigation, the Registrant admitted to practicing outside of his scope by prescribing and dispensing multiple medications to himself and others without a valid prescription. The Registrant prescribed medication to himself over 30 times without any prescription from a physician and inappropriately dispensed medications to himself on various other occasions. In relation to prescribing medications to others, the Registrant prescribed and dispensed azithromycin 26 times without a valid prescription, atavaquone proguanil two times without a valid prescription and doxycycline without a valid prescription. The Registrant listed the wrong prescriber on a prescription and conducted improper adaptations and emergency refills, each not in compliance with the Professional Practice Policies.

The Inquiry Committee determined that the Registrant breached the Code of Ethics – Detailed, Standard 1(b) which states that registrants practice only within the scope of their education, training and competence, Further, the Code of Ethics – Conflict of Interests Standards, Standard 2(e) very narrowly defines that registrants may only dispense medications to themselves in an emergency situation or when another registrant is not readily available.

The Inquiry Committee determined that the Registrant acted outside of scope, that he was not trained to prescribe any of the medications at issue, and that pharmacists in British Columbia do not have authority under legislation or the Code of Ethics to prescribe to themselves.

The Inquiry Committee determined that the Registrant engaged in professional misconduct and unethical conduct in relation to the unauthorized prescribing and dispensing practices, taking into account the gravity of the contraventions listed above and that the volume of practice deficiencies constituted a serious matter.

Prior to reinstatement, the Registrant must:

  • Appear before a panel of the Inquiry Committee for a verbal reprimand;
  • Successfully complete and pass the College Jurisprudence Exam;
  • Submit a fine of $5,000;
  • Thoroughly review the relevant legislation and sign a declaration acknowledging his understanding and rigid compliance with those legislative requirements.

The Registrant may not act as a pharmacy manager for a period of three years following reinstatement.

A letter of reprimand will be permanently placed on the College register and the College may disclose its contents in response to inquiries regarding the status of the Registrant’s registration. The Inquiry Committee considers this Agreement necessary to protect the public.

Asaria, Alnazir (Mar 12, 2017)

​Pursuant to section 36(1) of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (the “College”) reached a consent agreement with Alnazir Asaria (the “Registrant”) to suspend his registration as a pharmacist until he successfully completes and passes the College Jurisprudence Exam.

Following investigation, the Inquiry Committee determined that between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012, the Registrant, while pharmacy manager and owner of a pharmacy, practiced in contravention of the Bylaws to the Health Professions Act, Schedule F Part 1 Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice (the “Standards of Practice”) and the Bylaws to the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (the “Bylaws to the PODSA”).

Specifically, the Registrant engaged in deficient practice relating to:

  • Prescriptions filled in excess of authorized quantity;
  • Prescriptions filled after the expiry date;
  • Incomplete prescriptions missing quantity, dose or directions;
  • Prescriptions filled under the wrong prescriber;
  • Methadone prescriptions released to patients without complete and signed part-fill or witnessed ingestion logs;
  • Methadone given as carries without prescriber authorization;
  • Methadone prescriptions without adequate documentation including lack of Controlled Prescription Program (“CPP”) hardcopy prescription, CPP prescriptions without patient signature;
  • Methadone dispensed under incorrect DIN;
  • Prescription adaptation without adequate rationale or documentation;

The Inquiry Committee determined that the Registrant breached the Standards of Practice for each of the allegations listed and that the cumulative weight of the contraventions represent a serious matter which requires substantial remediation.

Prior to reinstatement of his registration, the Registrant must:

  • Thoroughly review the relevant legislation and sign a Declaration acknowledging his understanding of and rigid compliance with those legislative requirements;
  • Successfully complete and pass the College Jurisprudence Exam;

A Letter of Reprimand will be permanently placed on College Register and the College may disclose its contents in response to inquiries regarding the status of the Registrant’s registration.

The Inquiry Committee determined that the cumulative weight of each of the practice deficiencies demonstrated the Registrant’s disregard for his professional obligations and general sloppy practice. The sheer volume of practice deficiencies and breached practice standards demand a serious response to bring the Registrant’s practice into compliance with the governing legislation. The Inquiry Committee considers this agreement necessary to protect the public.

Elstak-Blackwell, Cassandra (Dec 14, 2016)

Cassandra Elstak-Blackwell has completed a term of suspension which ended on December 14, 2016, and her registration as a pharmacist has been reinstated as of December 15, 2016. 


November 15, 2016
(DECEMBER 14, 2016 - registration reinstated)

Pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee has reached an agreement with Cassandra Elstak-Blackwell (the “Registrant”) to temporarily suspend her registration as a pharmacist for 30 days, effective November 15, 2016 to December 14, 2016.

On March 12, 2015, a pharmacist at the Registrant’s pharmacy dispensed allopurinol to a patient which interacted with her existing medication, azathioprine. The drug-drug interaction between allopurinol and azathioprine is serious and well-known. On April 3, 2015, the Registrant dispensed refill prescriptions for allopurinol and azathioprine to the patient. These refills were dispensed again the next month on May 29, 2015 by another pharmacist.  In May 2015, the patient began experiencing symptoms of pancytopenia and was admitted to the hospital.  The patient remained in the hospital for 18 days during which she received multiple blood transfusions and required blood tests to determine the cause of her symptoms.

The Inquiry Committee found that the Registrant did not conduct a PharmaNet review, failed to detect the drug-drug interaction and did not provide counseling when she dispensed the medications to the patient.  The Inquiry Committee determined that in the interest of public safety, a 30-day suspension of the Registrant’s licence and educational remediation was appropriate for addressing this incident.  The Registrant has completed her educational requirements to the Inquiry Committee’s satisfaction and is now entering a 30-day suspension period for her licence.  The Inquiry Committee considers this agreement necessary to protect the public.   

Pharmacist Registrant 28 (Dec 6, 2016)

The Inquiry Committee has reinstated pharmacist registrant’s registration which had previously been suspended indefinitely on June 14, 2016. Pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant whereby the Registrant consented to undertakings involving regular monitoring for fitness to practice pharmacy. The undertakings include, but are not limited to:

  1. Strictly adhering to Registrant’s routine medical monitoring program with the institution currently involved in Registrant’s care and remaining on the monitoring program for a minimum period of two (2) years following the Registrant’s return to active employment as a pharmacist;

  2. Continuing to attend the Twelve Step meetings and Health Professionals Recovery Group as stipulated in the Registrant’s Recovery Management Agreement for a minimum of 2 years following the Registrant’s return to active employment as a pharmacist;

  3. Informing all managers and employers with whom Registrant gains employment of registrant’s medical condition and the limits and conditions on Registrant’s registration pursuant to the agreement;

  4. Ensuring that all managers and employers with whom Registrant gains employment submit a written statement to the College declaring their awareness of Registrant’s medical condition and the agreement, and how they will accommodate and supervise Registrant working in pharmacy;

  5. Not working in isolation after returning to work in a pharmacy setting and that at least 80% of the Registrant’s working hours must be with another pharmacist;

  6. After returning to work in a pharmacy setting, Registrant will not handle or physically prepare or dispense prescriptions for narcotic, controlled, opioid and sedative drugs, except if from time to time this is not possible, then Registrant can only hand them to the patient and provide patient counselling;

  7. Not having access to narcotic-safe or physically process and/or otherwise prepare any prescriptions that require access to the narcotic safe;

  8. Not being involved in any way with ordering supplies of narcotic medications;

  9. Being restricted from acting in the following roles in Registrant’s practice:
    1. an owner or manager of a pharmacy;
    2. a director of a corporation that owns a pharmacy; and
    3. a preceptor

     

  10. Notifying the College, in writing or via e-mail, of:
    1. ​all changes in places of employment as a pharmacist;
    2. all changes in residential address and phone number; and
    3. all changes in medical provider.

The Agreement will remain in place for a minimum of two years from the date of execution of the Agreement, following which the Registrant will be assessed by the treating physician to determine whether continuation of monitoring is necessary. The name of the Registrant has been withheld in accordance with section 39.3(4)(a) of the Health Professions Act for the purposes of not identifying the personal health information of the Registrant respecting the condition. The Inquiry Committee is satisfied that the undertakings will protect the public.


June 14, 2016
(December 6, 2016 - Registration Reinstated)

The Inquiry Committee pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with pharmacist registrant to suspend registration as a pharmacist effective June 14, 2016. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The Registrant's name has been withheld pursuant to 39.3(4) of the Health Professions Act.

McRae, Sarah (Oct 10, 2016)

Sarah McRae has completed a term of suspension which ended on October 9, 2016, and her registration as a pharmacist has been reinstated as of October 10, 2016.


September 10, 2016
(October 10, 2016 - Registration Reinstated)

Pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee has reached an agreement with Sarah McRae (the “Registrant”) to temporarily suspend her registration as a pharmacist for 30 days, effective September 10, 2016 to October 9, 2016.

On March 12, 2015, a pharmacist at the Registrant’s pharmacy dispensed allopurinol to a patient which interacted with her existing medication, azathioprine. The drug-drug interaction between allopurinol and azathioprine is serious and well-known. On April 3, 2015, another pharmacist at the pharmacy dispensed refill prescriptions for allopurinol and azathioprine to the patient. These refills were dispensed again the next month on May 29, 2015 by the Registrant.  In May 2015, the patient began experiencing symptoms of pancytopenia and was admitted to the hospital.  The patient remained in the hospital for 18 days during which she received multiple blood transfusions and required blood tests to determine the cause of her symptoms.

The Inquiry Committee found that the Registrant did not conduct a PharmaNet review, failed to detect the drug-drug interaction and did not provide counselling when she dispensed the medications to the patient.  The Inquiry Committee determined that in the interest of public safety, a 1-month suspension of the Registrant’s licence and educational remediation was appropriate for addressing this incident.  The Registrant has completed her educational requirements to the Inquiry Committee’s satisfaction and is now entering a 30-day suspension period for her licence.  The Inquiry Committee considers this agreement necessary to protect the public.   

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