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 Azizabegum Ladha (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 (“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: June 7, 2019

3. Name of registrant: Azizabegum Ladha 

4. Location of Practice: Surrey, BC

5. Admissions and Acknowledgements:

   Between January 2016 and July 2016, the Registrant worked at two different pharmacies, one of which she was the pharmacy manager. During this time, the following pharmacy practice issues and contraventions of legislation occurred, of which she had direct involvement:

   1. She did not provide adequate pharmacist/patient consultations for refill medications;

   2. She dispensed Schedule I medication in a manner that was not authorized in the prescriptions;

   3. She processed inaccurate and non-current transactions on PharmaNet;

   4. She did not review PharmaNet prior to dispensing prescriptions; and

   5. She did not take reasonable steps to confirm the identity of a patient before dispensing medication for this patient.

6. Disposition:

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

   1. To suspend her registration as a pharmacist for a total of 30 consecutive days;

   2. To not be a pharmacy manager and preceptor for a period of 18 months from the date that her suspension ends;
       

   3. To pay a fine in the amount of $5,000.00; and

   4. To successfully complete and pass the “BC Pharmacy Manager Training Program” offered by the British Columbia Pharmacy Association.

7. Rationale:

   The Inquiry Committee was concerned that the Registrant had previously consented to undertakings and a reprimand related to her pharmacy practice, from which she should have remediated. However, in this current matter she contravened practice standards which could have endangered patient health. The Inquiry Committee therefore considered the totality of the Registrant’s conduct to be serious, and that she required further remediation and deterrence in order to come into compliance.

   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.

1. Nature of Action: The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (“the College”) conducted an investigation into the practice of Davood Nekoi Panah (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 (“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 Health Professions Act.

2. Effective date: May 2, 2019

3. Name of registrant: Davood Nekoi Panah

4. Location of Practice: North Vancouver, BC

5. Admissions and Acknowledgements:

   Between December 16, 2016 and March 3, 2017, while the Registrant was pharmacy owner, pharmacy manager, and pharmacist at a pharmacy, the following pharmacy practice issues and contraventions of legislation occurred:

   1. He provided monetary incentives to a patient;

   2. He did not provide adequate pharmacist/patient consultation for refill medications;
       

   3. He dispensed Schedule I medication without having an authorized prescription;

   4. He dispensed Schedule I medication in a manner that was not authorized in the prescription;
       

   5. He dispensed Schedule I medications in unlabelled or inappropriately labelled prescription containers;

   6. He was directly involved in processing inaccurate and non-current transactions on PharmaNet; and

   7. He did not take reasonable steps to confirm the identity of patients before dispensing medication to these patients.
       

6. Disposition:

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

   1. To suspend his registration as a pharmacist for 60 consecutive days commencing September 4, 2019;

   2. To not be a pharmacy manager and preceptor for a period of two years from the date that his suspension ends;
       

   3. To pay a fine in the amount of $10,000.00;

   4. To successfully complete and pass an ethics course for healthcare professionals;
       

   5. To successfully complete and pass the “BC Pharmacy Manager Training Program” offered by the British Columbia Pharmacy Association;

   6. To appear before the Inquiry Committee for a verbal reprimand; and

   7. To thoroughly review and read legislation and standards of practice relevant to the conduct to which this matter relates, and thereafter submit a Declaration of Understanding regarding the legislation and standards of practice reviewed and read.
       

7. Rationale:

   The Inquiry Committee considered that the Registrant consistently contravened practice standards, knowingly neglected his basic duties as a pharmacist, and knowingly committed or allowed actions that were unethical and could potentially endanger patient health. The totality of his conduct was serious and demonstrated a breach of trust.

   Although this was the first instance the Registrant’s practice has been reviewed by the Inquiry Committee, based on his conduct in this case the Inquiry Committee considered it appropriate that the terms of the Consent Agreement not only be remedial, but also one that serves as a significant deterrent and sends a clear message to both the profession and the public that the College does not tolerate this type of conduct.

The Inquiry Committee has removed all limits and conditions from the pharmacist registrant’s registration, pursuant to a report and recommendation from the Registrant’s physician.

June 10, 2018

(March 29, 2019 - Limits and Conditions Removed)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 36(1) of the Health Professions Act, has reached a new Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to amend certain terms in the Agreement of May 1, 2017. The pharmacist registrant is now no longer subject to medical monitoring. All other limits and conditions will remain as part of the new Agreement for a minimum of six months, after which the Registrant’s medical condition may be reassessed. The Registrant has also agreed to begin a gradual return to work. 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.

May 1, 2017
(June 10, 2018 - Limits and Conditions Updated)

The Inquiry Committee has reinstated pharmacist registrant’s registration which had previously been suspended for an indefinite period on July 27, 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 the Registrant's routine medical monitoring program with the institution currently involved in his care and remaining on the monitoring program for a period of 12 months;

2. 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;

3. Ensuring that all managers and employers with whom Registrant gains employment submits 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;

4. Registrant will not work alone in a pharmacy setting, meaning that Registrant must never be the sole pharmacist in attendance at any time and that there must be another pharmacist or pharmacy assistant or pharmacy staff working with Registrant at all times;

5. Registrant will not have access to narcotic-safe or physically process and/or otherwise prepare any prescriptions that require access to the narcotic safe;

6. Registrant will not be involved in any way with ordering supplies of narcotic medications;

7. The Registrant will not process and/or otherwise prepare any prescriptions that require access to the narcotic safe. In dispensing such prescriptions, the Registrant will only be involved in the intake, final check and pharmacist/patient counseling in accordance with the HPA Bylaws;

8. The Registrant will be 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;

    

9. The Registrant will notify 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 12 months from the date of execution of the Agreement, following which the Registrant may submit information or documentation, including independent medical assessments, to support removing any or all of the above limits and conditions. 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.

July 27, 2016

(May 1, 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 his registration as a pharmacist, effective July 27, 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.

February 27, 2015

(July 27, 2016 – Registration Suspended)

The Inquiry Committee has reinstated pharmacist registrant’s registration which had previously been suspended for an indefinite period on July 23, 2014. 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 his routine medical monitoring program with the institution currently involved in the Registrant's care and remaining on the monitoring program for a period of 3 years;

2. 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;

3. Ensuring that all managers and employers with whom Registrant gains employment submits 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;

4. Registrant will not work alone in a pharmacy setting, meaning that Registrant must never be the sole pharmacist in attendance at any time and that there must be another pharmacist or pharmacy assistant or pharmacy staff working with Registrant at all times;

5. Registrant will not have access to narcotic-safe or physically process and/or otherwise prepare any prescriptions that require access to the narcotic safe;

6. Registrant will not be involved in any way with ordering supplies of narcotic medications;

7. The Registrant will not process and/or otherwise prepare any prescriptions that require access to the narcotic safe. In dispensing such prescriptions, the Registrant will only be involved in the intake, final check and pharmacist/patient counseling in accordance with the HPA Bylaws;

8. The Registrant will be 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;

9. The Registrant will notify 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 three years from the date of execution of the Agreement, following which the Registrant will be assessed by a physician to determine whether or not 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.

JULY 23, 2014
(FEBRUARY 27, 2015 – REGISTRATION REINSTATED)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 36 of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to suspend the registration as a pharmacist, effective July 23, 2014. 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.

1. 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.

2. Effective date: February 19, 2019

3. Name of registrant: Kayle Henry Christensen

4. Location of Practice: Dawson Creek, BC

5. 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.

6. 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.
       

7. 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.