Pharmacist Removed from Register Following Theft and Dishonesty Findings
Date of Decision: June 29, 2022
Registrant's Role: Pharmacist
Allegations:
- Theft from Tesco and Boots while working as a pharmacist
- Use of store systems to fraudulently obtain PlayStation Network (PSN) card points
- Failure to report a police caution to the GPhC
- Dishonesty and lack of integrity
Outcome: Removal from the Register with interim suspension
GPhC Standards Breached:
- Standard 6: Behave in a professional manner
- Standard 8: Speak up when there are concerns
- Standard 9: Demonstrate leadership
Case Summary
The Fitness to Practise Committee of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) determined that the registrant’s fitness to practise was impaired due to misconduct and dishonesty. As a result, he was removed from the register.
The case involved multiple incidents of theft and fraudulent transactions across multiple retail pharmacies, including Tesco and Boots. The registrant, while working as a locum pharmacist, stole various personal and household items, including groceries, clothing, and flowers, without paying for them. Additionally, he misused the store’s till system to activate PlayStation Network (PSN) gift cards, subsequently voiding the transactions while retaining financial benefits.
Tesco initiated an internal investigation in September 2019, which led to concerns being raised with the GPhC. In October 2020, another theft incident at Boots resulted in police intervention, leading to the registrant receiving a police caution in November 2020. Despite professional obligations, the registrant failed to report the caution to the GPhC within the required seven-day period.
The GPhC committee found that the registrant’s behaviour was premeditated, dishonest, and repeated over an extended period. The misconduct was fundamentally incompatible with being a pharmacist, given the position of trust and responsibility in which pharmacists operate. The registrant’s actions not only breached professional and ethical standards but also undermined public trust in the pharmacy profession.
Despite acknowledging his misconduct and expressing remorse, the committee found that the registrant had not demonstrated sufficient insight into his actions. The repeated nature of his dishonesty, combined with his inability to guarantee that similar behaviour would not be repeated, posed a risk to public confidence in the profession.
The committee ruled that a suspension would be insufficient to maintain public confidence in pharmacy regulation. Instead, the registrant was removed from the register, effectively barring him from practising as a pharmacist.
Learning Points:
- Integrity and Trust – Pharmacists hold a position of public trust, and any form of dishonesty or theft severely undermines professional credibility.
- Reporting Obligations – Registrants must report any police cautions or legal matters to the GPhC within the required timeframe to maintain transparency.
- Ethical Responsibility – Pharmacists are expected to uphold high ethical and professional standards, both within and outside the workplace.
- Consequences of Dishonesty – Dishonesty-related cases can result in removal from the register, demonstrating that GPhC takes misconduct seriously.
- Importance of Insight and Reflection – Professionals facing disciplinary actions must demonstrate full insight into their misconduct and provide concrete evidence of remediation.
Original Case Document
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