Kayle

Nature of Action: The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacist of British Columbia (the “College”) conducted an investigation into the practice of Kayle Henry Christensen (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183. The Inquiry Committee and the Registrant have agreed to resolve all matters arising from the investigation by way of a Consent Agreement under section 36(1) of the Health Professions Act.

Effective date: February 19, 2019

Name of registrant: Kayle Henry Christensen

Location of Practice: Dawson Creek, BC

Admissions and Acknowledgements:

Between September 2014 and June 2018, the Registrant took unauthorized medications for his own personal use, from the pharmacy for which he was the pharmacy manager. The medications taken included, but were not limited to, 16,000 tablets of a narcotic drug substance and 10,000 tablets of a controlled drug substance, both of which require an authorized prescription.

The Registrant did not process or bill these medications on PharmaNet and these medications were reportedly not provided to any other persons. The Registrant altered and adjusted the pharmacy’s inventory records to ensure the losses would go unnoticed.

Disposition:

The Registrant entered into a Consent Agreement with the College’s Inquiry Committee, wherein the Registrant consented to terms that include (but not limited to) the following:

1. To suspend his registration as a pharmacist for a total of 90 days from October 16, 2019 to January 12, 2020;

2. To not be pharmacy manager of a pharmacy, and a preceptor for pharmacy students for a period of three years from January 13, 2020 to January 13, 2023;
    

3. In relation to narcotic and controlled drugs, to not place and receive orders, destroy expired inventory, or have signing authority relating to the ordering of such substances for a period of three years from January 13, 2020 to January 13, 2023;

4. To complete and successfully pass an ethics course for healthcare professionals; and
    
5. To pay a fine of $1,500.
    

Rationale:

The Inquiry Committee considered that in this case, in addition to the serious misconduct, the Registrant placed himself and his patients at significant risk of harm when he took unauthorized medications for personal use and continued to practice in the capacity of a pharmacist. His actions were a serious contravention of standards in the Code of Ethics, and compromised the public’s trust in the pharmacy profession as a whole.

The Inquiry Committee therefore determined that the Registrant required serious remediation and deterrence regarding his conduct. After also considering significant mitigating factors, the Inquiry Committee considered the terms of the Consent Agreement appropriate to protect the public, as well as send a clear message of deterrence to the profession.