Public Notifications

1. Nature of Action: 

   The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (the “College”) conducted an investigation into the practice of Edgardo Maniago Montejo (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 (the “HPA”).

   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 HPA.

2. Effective date: January 9, 2025 

3. Name of registrant: Edgardo Maniago Montejo

4. Location of Practice: Nanaimo, BC

5. Admissions and Acknowledgments:
   
   The Registrant has admitted and/or acknowledged the following:
   
   Between November 11, 2022 and February 2, 2023, and between February 10, 2023 and May 22, 2024, while he was the pharmacy manager of a pharmacy, he:

   1. Dispensed an estimated 552 doses of methadone to a patient without a valid prescription, contrary to section 19(6) of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act, S.B.C. 2003, c.77 (“PODSA”) Bylaws and did not process the prescription transactions onto PharmaNet at the time of dispense, contrary to section 35(1) of the PODSA Bylaws;

   2. Did not complete a final check and clinical assessment of a prescription, contrary to sections 2, and 6(5) of the HPA Bylaws, Schedule F, Part 1 – Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice;

   3. Did not complete narcotic drug reconciliations in accordance with sections 2(a), 2(c), 2(d), 2(s), and 3(a) of Professional Practice Policy 65 – Narcotic Counts and Reconciliations and section 23.1(1) of the PODSA Bylaws;

   4. Prescribed and dispensed prescriptions to himself and prescribed a prescription for his child, contrary to section 2(e) of the HPA Bylaws, Schedule A – Code of Ethics Conflict of Interest Standards and Professional Practice Policy 31 – Emergency Supply for Continuity of Care;

   5. Did not record a self-declaration of completing the BC Pharmacy Association Opioid Agonist Treatment Compliance and Management Program for Pharmacy Training Program, contrary to Professional Practice Policy 66 – Opioid Agonist Treatment; and

   6. Did not complete the BC Community Pharmacy Manager Training Program within three years of his last completed training and declaration date, contrary to Professional Practice Policy 69 – Community Pharmacy Manager Education.

   Disposition:

   The Registrant entered into a Consent Agreement with the College’s Inquiry Committee, wherein the Registrant consented to the following terms:

   1. To thoroughly review and review legislation, standards, and policies relevant to the conduct to which this matter relates, and thereafter to submit a Declaration of Understanding to the College;

   2. To complete learning activities;

   3. To write a letter of apology addressed to the original prescriber of the patient;

   4. To receive a letter of reprimand;

   5. To successfully pass the College’s Jurisprudence Examination;

   6. To pay a $5,000.00 fine;

   7. To be suspended as a registrant of the College for a period of one-hundred-eighty (180) days from January 13 to July 12, 2025;

   8. To not act as a pharmacy manager or preceptor of pharmacy students and/or international pharmacy graduates for a period of three-hundred-sixty-five (365) days following the completion of his suspension;

   9. To not provide emergency prescription refills pursuant to Professional Practice Policy 31 – Emergency Supply for Continuity of Care in relation to narcotic, controlled, and targeted drug substances for a period of three-hundred-sixty-five (365) days, to commence following the completion of his suspension;

   10. To not dispense opioid agonist treatment for a period of three-hundred-sixty-five (365) days, to commence following the completion of his suspension;

   11. To complete and successfully pass an ethics course for healthcare professionals within 180 days of signing the Consent Agreement; and

   12. To appear before the Inquiry Committee for a verbal reprimand after completing the ethics course.
        

6. Rationale:

   The Inquiry Committee determined that the Registrant’s conduct demonstrated an egregious breach of trust. The Registrant acted beyond his scope of practice and inappropriately prescribed and dispensed a narcotic with a high risk of harm for an estimated total of approximately 552 days.

   The Registrant’s admissions indicated he did not record these prescriptions to the patient’s PharmaNet record, nor did he complete adequate clinical assessments to ensure the safety and efficacy of methadone he dispensed to the patient, which ultimately created a significant risk of harm to the patient.

   He prescribed and dispensed drugs to himself and prescribed a drug for his child, which demonstrated a pattern of disregard for the legislation that regulates the profession of pharmacy.

   The Inquiry Committee therefore determined that the Registrant required serious remediation and deterrence regarding his conduct. After 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.

1. Nature of Action: The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (“CPBC”) conducted investigations into the practice of Geoffrey Kyle Soo Chan (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33 (1) and (4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 (“HPA”). The CPBC issued a Citation on December 7, 2023.

Further to a proposal for resolution from the Registrant, the Inquiry Committee made a Consent Order under section 37.1 of the HPA.

2. Effective date: December 3, 2024
3. Name of registrant: Geoffrey Kyle Soo Chan
4. Location of Practice: Vancouver, BC
5. Admissions and Acknowledgments:

The Registrant has admitted and/or acknowledged the following:

The Registrant was the indirect owner and manager of Pharmachoice Main, located at 3882 Main Street in Vancouver (the “Pharmacy”).

Between January 1 and August 31, 2021, the Registrant processed approximately1646 transactions involving 28,404 doses of naloxone nasal spray using the personal health information and PharmaNet records of 301 patients who resided in various communities across BC (the “Transactions”).

For each of the Transactions, the Registrant did not dispense the doses of naloxone nasal spray to the patient whose personal health information and PharmaNet record he used. Instead, the Registrant dispensed the doses to the same individual who, in each case, purported to act in the capacity of patient representative for the patient.

For each of the Transactions, the Registrant

1. processed and dispensed the nasal naloxone spray without obtaining patient consent as required by Standard 2(f) of the Code of Ethics – Detailed (the “Code of Ethics”) which is found in Schedule A of the Health Professions Act – BYLAWS (the “HPA Bylaws”),
2. failed to take reasonable steps to confirm the identity of a patient or patient representative prior to providing a pharmacy service that requires accessing, using, or disclosing of patient personal health information, contrary to section 25.94 of the HPA, Section 36 of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act – BYLAWS (the “PODSA Bylaws”) and Professional Practice Policy – 54: Identifying Patients and Patient Representatives in Community Pharmacy and Telepharmacy Settings,
3. failed to protect and promote the health and well-being of the patient, exercise his professional judgment in furtherance of the best interests of the patient, and support the patient in making informed choices about care by explaining the benefits and risks associated with naloxone nasal spray, contrary to Standards 1(a), 2(a), and 2(b) of the Code of Ethics,
4. failed, contrary to sections 66 and 67 of the HPA Bylaws,

(i)       to only collect personal health information from the patient or a person the patient authorized to be a source for the collection of the patient’s personal health information, and

(ii)      when collecting the patient’s personal health information from a person other than the patient, to take reasonable steps to ensure the patient was aware the patient’s personal health information was being collected, and the purpose for that collection,

5. failed to keep the patient’s PharmaNet records current, contrary to section 35(1) of the PODSA Bylaws,
6. failed to establish and maintain policies and procedures at the Pharmacy aimed at ensuring compliance with legislative requirements identified in subparagraphs (a) to (e), contrary to section 24(1)(a) of the PODSA Bylaws, and
7. failed to avoid a situation that presented a conflict of interest and reduced the Registrant’s ability to be objective and unbiased in his professional judgment, contrary to Standard 8(d) of the Code of Ethics, as well as the Conflict of Interest Standards found in Schedule A of the HPA Bylaws.

Additionally, in the course of the investigation of the matters described in paragraphs 2 to 4, the Registrant submitted to the CPBC two copies of a July 7, 2021 prescription for naloxone nasal spray, the first on August 5, 2021 and the second on September 30, 2021. The copy of the prescription that was submitted on September 30, 2021 had been altered to indicate the Registrant had consulted with the person to whom the prescription was dispensed.

The described conduct of the Registrant constituted professional misconduct under the HPA.

6. Disposition:

In the Consent Order under section 37.1 of the HPA, the Inquiry Committee ordered that the Registrant

1. sign and deliver to the CPBC a letter of undertaking,
2. be suspended for 6 months, commencing on an agreed date,
3. for 3 years following the completion of the suspension, not act as, or apply to become

i.        a pharmacy manager,

ii.        a preceptor or supervisor for registered pharmacy students or international pharmacy graduates, or

iii.       an owner (indirect or direct) of an alternate pharmacy,

4. after the end of that 3 years, and before applying to act as a pharmacy manager,

i.        successfully complete the BC Community Pharmacy Manager Training Program provided by the British Columbia Pharmacy Association, and

ii.        ensure that the policy and procedure manual for any pharmacy where he intends to act as a pharmacy manager includes sections addressing, (1) Patient Identification and Obtaining Informed Consent, (2) Authorization of Patient Agent/Representative, and (3) Dispensing of Nasal Naloxone Spray for Patients,

5. thoroughly review and understand

i.        Part 1 of the Standards of Practice found in Schedule F of the HPA Bylaws,

ii.        section 67(1) of the HPA Bylaws,

iii.       the PODSA Bylaws, and

iv.       Professional Practice Policy – 54: Identifying Patients and Patient Representatives in Community Pharmacy and Telepharmacy Settings,

6. successfully complete, as his own expense,

i.        the online “Decision Making and Documentation Keeping it Simple”, Part 1 & Part 2 modules offered as by part of the Optimizing Patient Care program by the Ontario College of Pharmacists,

ii.        the online module “Documentation in the World Expanded Scope”, provided as part of the Optimizing Patient Care Series by the Ontario College of Pharmacists,

iii.       the online “A Practical Approach to Patient Assessment (UofT)”, offered as part of the Optimizing Patient Care program by the Ontario College of Pharmacists,

iv.       the online module “Cultural Safety: Respect and Dignity in Relationships: Indigenous Peoples and the Health Care System”, provided as part of the Cultural Safety and Humility Action Series offered by the First Nations Health Authority, and

v.       the online module “Responding to Anti-Indigenous Racism in the Health Care System”, provided as part of the Cultural Safety and Humility Action Series offered by the First Nations Health Authority,

7. read

i.        the article from Canadian Pharmacists Letter: HIPAA Privacy 2021, Volume 2021, Self-Study Course #21-301, and

ii.        the article from Canadian Pharmacists Letter: Naloxone’s Role in Opioid Overdose, Volume 2021, Self-Study Course #21-218,

8. submit to the CPBC a written statement describing his learnings from completing the listed coursework and readings, including what changes he will make to his practice to prevent the recurrence of the conduct underlying the Consent Order, and how those changes will improve his practice going forward,
9. at his own cost, write and successfully pass the CPBC’s Jurisprudence Exam,
10. at his own cost, successfully complete and unconditionally pass, the PROBE Canada program on Professional/Problem Based Ethics,
11. pay a fine of $20,000, and
12. receive a letter or reprimand.

The Registrant repeatedly contravened sections of the HPA Bylaws, the PODSA Bylaws, and the Code of Ethics in his practice as a pharmacist, and as the pharmacy manager of the Pharmacy, and thereby, neglected his basic duties as a pharmacist, and demonstrated a disregard for the fundamentals of pharmacy practice.

The Registrant’s conduct is considered significant professional misconduct as defined in s. 26 of the HPA and justifies serious consequences. The Inquiry Committee therefore considered it appropriate, and the Registrant agreed, that the disposition for such conduct be one that serves as a strong deterrent and sends a clear message to both the profession and the public that the CPBC cannot and will not tolerate this type of conduct under any circumstances.

On September 24, 2024, the Panel of the Discipline Committee made the following orders of penalty:

1. Pursuant to s. 20(4) of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act, Jaspaul Singh Sidhu is prohibited from being an indirect or direct owner of a pharmacy in British Columbia until such time as he has fully complied with the College investigator’s December 2020 request for information.
    
2. Pursuant to s. 20(1)(a) of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act and s. 39(2) of the Health Professions Act, Jaspaul Singh Sidhu is ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $10,000.
    
3. Pursuant to s. 20(1)(a) of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act, s. 39(5) of the Health Professions Act and Schedule E of the Health Professions Act Bylaws, Jaspaul Singh Sidhu is ordered to pay the College’s costs and disbursements in the sum of $34,465.10.

• Penalty Decision

December 14, 2023

On December 14, 2023, a Panel of the Discipline Committee, pursuant to section 39(1)(a) of the Health Professions Act, found that former shareholder indirect owner Jaspaul Singh Sidhu, of Surrey, British Columbia, failed to comply with his obligation to cooperate as a shareholder indirect owner under section 18(8) of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act Bylaws.

• Decision

1. Nature of Action: 

   The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (the “College”) conducted investigations into the conduct of Patience Akeh Tendo (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(1) and 33(4) of the Health Professions Act RSBC 1996 c 183 (the “HPA”).

   The Inquiry Committee and the Registrant have agreed to resolve all matters arising from the investigations by way of a Consent Agreement pursuant to section 36(1) of the HPA.

2. Effective date: August 26, 2024

3. Name of registrant: Patience Akeh Tendo

4. Location of Practice: Surrey, BC

5. Admissions and Acknowledgments:
   
   The Registrant admitted and/or acknowledged that while practicing as a pharmacist and acting as indirect owner, director and pharmacy manager at a pharmacy, she:

   1. Allowed the pharmacy to be operated by non-pharmacists for two or three days without pharmacist supervision. This enabled non-pharmacists to process and dispense medications, including narcotic medications, using the Registrant’s registration number on PharmaNet;

   2. Failed to appoint a new manager to take her place prior to taking a leave of absence;

   3. Failed to submit a Change of Manager application to the College, thereby failing to inform the College of a change of pharmacy manager; and

   4. Allowed the pharmacy to operate without a manager.
       

6. Disposition:

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

   1. To thoroughly review and read legislation, standards, and policies relevant to the conduct to which this matter relates;

   2. To complete learning activities;

   3. To write and successfully pass the College’s Jurisprudence Exam;

   4. To not act as a pharmacy manager for a period of three years from August 26, 2024 to August 25, 2027;
       

   5. To not be an indirect owner, shareholder, officer, director, or direct owner of any pharmacy in BC for a period of three (3) years from August 26, 2024 to August 25, 2027; and

   6. To have a letter of reprimand placed on the College register for a period of three (3) years. 

7. Rationale:

   The Inquiry Committee considered the Registrant’s conduct to be highly concerning and that it put patients and the public at increased risk of harm. They perceived that she lacked awareness of her legislative responsibilities as a pharmacist, manager and director. Further, they determined that the Registrant’s unawareness of her roles and responsibilities as manager and director were highly unprofessional.

   The Inquiry Committee ultimately concluded that the Registrant’s conduct was serious and in need of both remediation and deterrence in order to prevent similar recurrences in the future, to protect the public, and to uphold confidence in the integrity of pharmacy practice.