Superintendent pharmacist owner suspended after serious misconduct findings including dispensing water instead of Oramorph

Date of Decision: September 17, 2026

Registrant's Role: Pharmacist

Allegations:

• The registrant, while part-owner, Superintendent Pharmacist and frequently Responsible Pharmacist at Harper’s Pharmacy, Brighton, was alleged to have substituted Oramorph/morphine sulphate and/or oxycodone hydrochloride with water or another liquid between January and August 2018.
• The registrant was alleged to have supplied Patient A with liquid that had been substituted for Oramorph/morphine sulphate.
• The registrant was alleged to have acted dishonestly by knowingly supplying medication that did not contain the prescribed medicine.
• The registrant was alleged to have behaved inappropriately during a home visit to Patient A, causing alarm and distress, including entering the patient’s home without consent and asking for the return of a bottle containing a suspected substituted medicine.
• The registrant was alleged to have possessed controlled drugs and prescription-only medicines at home without good reason, including Oramorph, buprenorphine, methylphenidate and stimulant medicines.
• The registrant was alleged to have retained controlled drug registers away from pharmacy premises without good reason and breached patient confidentiality.
• The registrant was alleged to have consumed morphine, oxycodone, cocaine, narcocaine and amphetamine without a valid medical reason.
• The registrant was alleged to have failed to maintain Responsible Pharmacist logs between January and August 2018.

Outcome: 4 month suspension

GPhC Standards Breached:

• Standard 1 – Provide person-centred care
• Standard 5 – Use professional judgement
• Standard 6 – Behave in a professional manner
• Standard 7 – Respect and maintain the person’s confidentiality and privacy

Case Summary

Original Case Document