Northern Ireland Community Pharmacist Issued Warning Over Misuse of Social Media Platform

Date of Decision: February 26, 2025

Registrant's Role: Pharmacist

Allegations:

Accepted a police caution for the offence of improper use of a public electronic communications network.
Created a false social media profile using someone else's photos without permission.
Published false and inaccurate information causing undue anxiety to the victim.

Outcome: Warning

GPhC Standards Breached:

Standard 3.1.1 – Adhere to accepted and acceptable standards of personal and professional conduct at all times both inside and outside your work environment.
Standard 3.3.1 – Ensure appropriate and responsible use of social networking sites and other forms of electronic communications.

Case Summary

Allegations

This case concerns a community pharmacist who accepted a police caution for creating a false profile on social media, using another individual’s photographs without consent, and disseminating misleading information about that person. The incident occurred in October 2023 and the profile remained public for up to three days. The content caused the victim undue anxiety. This led to a breach of trust and professional expectations, triggering a Fitness to Practise investigation by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

The pharmacist accepted the caution from the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 21 October 2023 and promptly self-referred to the regulator. The actions were entirely unrelated to their professional practice, but they raised significant concerns about personal conduct and the responsible use of electronic communications.

Findings

The Statutory Committee acknowledged that the pharmacist had admitted the facts of the case through legal representation. They accepted that the creation of a false social media profile and dissemination of false information was deliberate and unacceptable conduct. Importantly, the registrant accepted full responsibility, engaged with the police voluntarily, and declined legal representation during the police process.

The panel noted the pharmacist’s youth and otherwise unblemished professional record. Notably, the individual had taken several remedial steps, including:

Deleting all social media accounts.
Completing an online course on the Responsible Use of Social Media in March 2024.
Providing a reflective statement demonstrating insight into the impact of their actions.

The registrant’s employer provided a character reference confirming continued trust in the pharmacist’s professional capabilities. Furthermore, the pharmacist had been promoted to a pharmacy manager role as of January 2025.

GPhC Determination on Impairment

The Committee referred to the legal framework under section 4(1)(g) of Schedule 3 of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, which allows for a finding of impairment based on a police caution alone. Despite acknowledging remediation and a low risk of repetition, the Committee concluded that a finding of impairment was necessary to uphold public confidence and professional standards. As the determination stated:

The need to uphold professional standards and public confidence in the profession would be undermined if a finding of impairment were not made in the particular circumstances of this case.

They emphasised that while the conduct was a one-off event, unrelated to professional practice, the deliberate misuse of electronic communications had consequences that extended into the public sphere, necessitating regulatory intervention.

Sanction

After considering the full range of sanctions, the Committee determined that a Warning was the most proportionate response. The reasoning included the registrant’s early admission of guilt, sincere apologies, proactive remediation, and demonstrated insight. The sanction aimed to preserve public trust while acknowledging the registrant’s overall fitness to practise.

The more severe sanctions—conditions, suspension, or removal—were deemed disproportionate given the non-clinical nature of the misconduct and the registrant’s strong professional track record. As the Committee succinctly put it:

The Warning demonstrates to the Registrant himself, and more widely to the profession, and to the public, that his behaviour, on this occasion, fell below acceptable standards.

Key Learning Points for Pharmacy Professionals

Personal conduct impacts professional standing – Even non-clinical misconduct, such as inappropriate social media use, can significantly affect a pharmacist’s registration and career.
Early remediation matters – Prompt self-referral, cooperation with authorities, and visible steps to change behaviour are key mitigating factors.
Responsible use of digital platforms – Pharmacists are held to high standards both inside and outside the workplace. Creating false profiles or spreading misinformation, even outside of work, can lead to regulatory scrutiny.
Reflective practice and education – Completing targeted CPD, such as the online course on social media, and providing reflective statements can influence regulatory outcomes positively.
Insight and accountability are critical – Demonstrating that one understands the impact of their actions on others and the profession is crucial to regaining trust and continuing in practice.

This case serves as a reminder that professional integrity must extend to all areas of life, including online behaviour. Pharmacy professionals must remain vigilant about their digital footprint and the broader implications of personal choices on public trust and professional credibility.

Original Case Document

The full determination transcript is available to logged in users.