10-month suspension for relief pharmacist who appropriated ADHD drugs from 14 employers

A relief pharmacist who stole psychostimulants from 13 employers and fraudulently used a doctor’s credentials to obtain attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication from another employer has been suspended for 10 months and seven days. Etienne Dauphin, a registered pharmacist in Quebec, was found guilty by the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec of 29 counts over wrongdoings that took place between August 2017 and June 2019 while he worked as a substitute pharmacist in various sites in and around the province’s Eastern Townships. The disciplinary board imposed three periods of suspension—eight months, two months and seven days—to be served concurrently. Dauphin worked exclusively for one pharmacy until 2016 when he decided, after separating from his partner, to switch to relief work so he could pursue his passion for photography while continuing to practise his profession. Read: Don't try this at home: Pharmacist slammed for vaccinating patients in his own residence Shortly after he started using nervous stimulants from the methylphenidate family, without a medical prescription. According to the decision document issued by the disciplinary board, Dauphin began to appropriate drugs such as Biphentin, Ritalin, Concerta, Dexedrine and Vyvanse from his various workplaces. He deliberately targeted pharmacies that had internal control systems which “seem to him to be favourable to the appropriation or psychostimulants,” wrote the disciplinary board. At 13 pharmacies, he took the unprescribed drugs without paying for them. At a 14th location, he made a false prescription for himself for 75 methylphenidate tablets, using the name and licence number of his doctor. Dauphin finally got caught after a pharmacist who owned three pharmacies where Dauphin had worked found recurring inventory discrepancies with certain medications and noticed that these discrepancies occurred during the same dates Dauphin was on duty. Read: Owner of Quebec town's one and only pharmacy pleads guilty to falsifying prescriptions and cocaine use The owner contacted the pharmacy’s banner and requested an internal investigation. In June 2019, Dauphin was caught on video taking medication from one of the pharmacies and slipping the drugs into his backpack. When confronted by the owner, Dauphin admitted he had been taking these medications daily to help him stay focused. He subsequently paid the pharmacist owner for the drugs he took, which amounted to almost $1,800. In addition to the suspension, the disciplinary board placed a six-month practice restriction that prohibits Dauphin from carrying out any tasks that involve narcotics and other controlled substances. Read:What’s in a pharmacy name? A penalty if you get it wrong, one owner learns the hard way

10-month suspension for relief pharmacist who appropriated ADHD drugs from 14 employers

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics