Irricana, Alta. pharmacist handed four months of suspension, $40K in fines
A pharmacist in Irricana has been handed four months of suspension and $40,000 in fines by the Alberta College of Pharmacy for unprofessional conduct and misconduct.
Anamaria Muresan was accused of pharmacy record-keeping deficiencies, including concerns raised by a third-party insurer about missing supplier invoices.
"The Hearing Tribunal found that Muresan failed to act ethically when she submitted claims to a third-party insurer without being able to provide the required supporting supplier invoices, without obtaining required patient signatures, and in excess of the allowable number of claims per day," the college said in a release.
"Also, it was found that she failed to ensure her pharmacy had an effective record-keeping system, and failed to create or maintain required and accurate pharmacy records."
A hearing tribunal found her conduct "was unprofessional and as a licensee (pharmacy manager) she had engaged in misconduct."
"The hearing tribunal found that her actions had created the potential for patient harm and harmed the integrity of the profession, and therefore warranted serious sanctions," read the release.
"The Tribunal also noted that Muresan was remorseful and accepted responsibility for her conduct, undertook to improve her pharmacy’s operations, had no previous findings of unprofessional conduct, fully cooperated with the investigation, and made full restitution to the third-party insurer ($83,898)."
A number of penalties were ordered, including:
- Four months of suspension with one month to be served April 1-30 and the other three months held in abeyance for three years then retired should there not be any similar concerns referred to investigation by the complaints director;
- Fines totalling $40,000;
- Providing a copy of the written decision to the employer or licensee of any pharmacy where she works as a pharmacist for three years, and;
- To pay 80 per cent of the total costs of the investigation and hearing (80 per cent of $22,413).
- If the complaints director refers similar concerns to a hearing within five years, he may direct that Muresan cannot serve as an owner, proprietor, or licensee of a pharmacy for a period of three years, and;
"The regulatory framework that governs pharmacists makes it clear that record keeping is central to the role of both pharmacists and licensees," read a decision dated Nov. 30, 2021.
"Pharmacists are obligated to inform themselves of regulatory requirements. The failure to comply with record keeping requirements is of great concern, since it has the potential to negatively impact public trust in pharmacists’ ability to provide services in a professional manner."
Irricana is about 63 kilometres northeast of Calgary.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.