Vic pharmacist reprimand

A 29-YEAR-OLD Victorian pharmacist has been formally reprimanded by the state’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), in a case referred by the Pharmacy Board of Australia in relation to self-administration of oxycodone and alprazolam.

The pharmacist, who was first registered in 2013, began taking the drugs after a rib injury and then continued, citing family conflicts and the pressures of working as a registered pharmacist.

An investigation found he had misappropriated significant quantities of S8 drugs, peaking at 58 Oxynorm 20mg capsules daily in 2014.

The pharmacist was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty in Feb 2016 to nine charges, with no conviction recorded and a Community Corrections Order imposed with conditions requiring him to undergo addiction therapy, random drug testing and mental health assessment.

Later that year the Pharmacy Board determined the pharmacists’ behaviour constituted professional misconduct and formally referred the matter to VCAT.

At a VCAT hearing last month he admitted to the conduct and further agreed that it constituted professional misconduct and was contrary to a pharmacist’s professional obligations.

The hearing noted a number of attempts to seek help, with a formal statement finding the pharmacist had a very low likelihood of re-offending and excellent prospects of rehabilitation.

The Tribunal accepted the pharmacist’s expression of genuine remorse, issuing a reprimand and finding that should he re-apply to the Pharmacy Board of Australia for registration he should be required to undergo independent psychiatric assessment.

Any registration granted must also contain a condition requiring a minimum of nine months of supervised practice without access to controlled drugs.