A Canadian Pharmacist Stole Over 26,000 Narcotics And Is Still Eligible To Work Again After 3 Years

A major scandal involving a pharmacist in Canada has recently been brought to light. According to a report released last month on March 22, 2019, a Canadian pharmacist stole over 26,000 narcotic pills but will be allowed to work again in three years. Not only this, but he was found guilty of using the 26,000 pills for his personal use. Despite the heavy theft, this man will still be eligible to work as a pharmacist again following a three-year prohibition period. 

The College of Pharmacists of BC has decided to discipline a pharmacist following a heavy narcotics theft. According to a complaint document posted by the college, a BC pharmacist stole a large number of narcotics for personal use.

They conducted an investigation and found Kayle Henry Christensen, a pharmacist in Dawson Creek, guilty of stealing a number of narcotics while working. Despite this, he will still be eligible to work as a pharmacist in BC again after a three year probation period. 

The post states that between September 2014 and June 2018, Christensen stole unauthorized medications for his own personal use. The narcotics were taken from the pharmacy that Christensen was the manager of. 

Altogether, 26,000 tablets were stolen by Christensen within four years. The narcotics stolen include, but are not limited to, 16,000 tabes of “a narcotic drug substances” and another 10,000 tablets of “a controlled drug substances.” All the tablets required an authorized prescription in order to get a hold of them. 

Although it was a large number of tablets over the four years, the investigation concluded that Christensen did not provide them to any other person. In other words, all 26,000 tablets were consumed and handled by Christensen. 

In order to get away with this, Christensen did not process or bill these medications on PharmaNet. Instead, he altered and adjusted the pharmacy’s inventory records to ensure that the losses would go unnoticed. 

As a result of the crime, Christensen will have his registration suspended as a pharmacist for a total of 90 days. He will also not be allowed to hold a pharmacy manager title at a pharmacy for a period of three years.

During his three-year probation, he will not be allowed to place and receive orders, destroy expired inventory, or have any signing authority relating to the ordering of substances.

Along with some privileges being revoked for a total of three years, Christensen will also have to complete and pass an ethics course for healthcare professionals. In addition, Christensen will need to pay a fine of $1,500 for his actions. 

“The Inquiry Committee considered that in this case, in addition to the serious misconduct, the Registrant placed himself and his patients at significant risk of harm when he took unauthorized medications for personal use and continued to practice in the capacity of a pharmacist,” states the publicly posted inquiry.