Fitim

Effective date: January 26, 2024

Name of registrant: Fitim Hajrizaj

Location of Practice: Esquimalt, BC

Admissions and Acknowledgements: 

Between 2021 and 2022, while working as a pharmacist at a federally regulated facility, the Former Registrant misappropriated controlled drugs and falsified records to conceal his conduct

Disposition:

The Former Registrant entered into a Consent Agreement with the College’s Inquiry Committee, wherein he consented to terms that included (but not limited to) the following, which would take effect if and when the Former Registrant is reinstated to an active practicing registration class:

1. To be suspended as a registrant of the College for a period of 90 days, to commence immediately upon his reinstatement to an active practicing registration class;

2. To have the following limits and conditions applied to his practice for a period of 3 years, to commence on the date that the 90-day suspension ends:

   1. To not be a pharmacy manager or preceptor for pharmacy students;
       
   2. In relation to narcotic and controlled drugs, to not place and receive orders or have related signing authority, to not conduct inventory counts and reconciliations, and to not handle, dispose, destroy, or return such substances;
       

3. To complete and successfully pass an ethics course for healthcare professionals, within one year of reinstatement to an active practicing registration class; and

4. To pay a fine of $1,000.00 within one year of reinstatement to an active practicing registration class.
    

The terms for this Consent Agreement also include a letter of reprimand that has been placed on the College register.
 

Rationale:

The Inquiry Committee considered it owes a duty to the public and to the pharmacy profession to enforce and maintain the standards of practice and code of conduct expected of members of the profession.

The Inquiry Committee considered that the Former Registrant’s conduct was highly unethical and amounted to a “serious matter” and “professional misconduct” as defined in section 26 of the HPA. The Former Registrant took advantage of his role, authority, and privileges as a pharmacist, thereby undermining the integrity of the pharmacy profession. While there were mitigating factors, his conduct was unlawful and was a clear breach of the ethical standards expected of pharmacy professionals.

The Inquiry Committee considered the terms of the Consent Agreement necessary to protect the public, as well as send a clear message of deterrence to the profession.