Cocaine Use and Fitness to Practise: Pharmacist Suspended Again in Second Review Hearing
Date of Decision: May 7, 2020
Registrant's Role: Pharmacist
Allegations:
- Attended work as a Responsible Pharmacist while unfit and/or under the influence of cocaine
- Admitted to having consumed cocaine to colleagues
- Historical use of cocaine on other occasions between January 2017 and the date in question
- Failed to cooperate with the GPhC investigation by refusing drug tests
Outcome: Suspension extended for 6 months
GPhC Standards Breached:
- Standard 1.1 – You must make sure the services you provide are safe and of an acceptable quality
- Standard 6 – Patients and the public put their trust in pharmacy professionals. You must behave in a way that justifies this trust and maintains the reputation of your profession
- Standard 6.5 – You must meet acceptable standards of personal and professional conduct
- Standard 7.1 – You must practise only if fit to do so
- Standard 7.8 – You must make sure that your actions do not… present a risk to patient care or public safety
Case Summary
Allegations
This case concerns a pharmacist who attended work as a Responsible Pharmacist while under the influence of cocaine. The incident occurred on a Sunday when the registrant arrived 15 minutes late and reported feeling unwell due to having attended a party the previous night. Observations from colleagues—a Pharmacy Technician and a Pharmacy Advisor—described erratic and concerning behaviour, including agitation, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and eventual incapacitation to the point of lying on the pharmacy floor. He admitted to colleagues that he had taken cocaine, claiming he had been using it “solidly” for three days without sleep.
The pharmacy was forced to close temporarily to await a replacement pharmacist. Subsequent reports confirmed that the registrant had previously admitted to cocaine use at a New Year’s Eve party and had been using the drug almost daily since then. These events prompted a GPhC investigation.
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- Full allegations considered by the GPhC
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Original Case Document
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- Detailed findings of fact
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