Regina pharmacist found guilty of misconduct, incompetence

Between filing problems, prescription problems and mistakes in dispensing, a Regina pharmacist’s licence has been taken away.

Arthur Woo and his pharmacy, Dewdney Drugs Ltd., were accused of 15 different misconduct and incompetence charges. They were found guilty in 11 of them.

The charges range from not filing prescriptions properly in the Pharmaceutical Information Program and provincial drug claims system, to dispensing drugs without the proper authorization.

As well, he was found to have dispensed codeine medication three times in two weeks to a man who was, at the same time, undergoing an opioid replacement therapy.

Woo was also found to have made mistakes in dispensing HIV medication to two patients, one of whom, as a result of the mistake, ended up going untreated for that time and was a possible source of infection to other people.

The decision from the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals said Woo’s conduct placed the health and well-being of his patients in jeopardy.

“The failures on behalf of the Respondents are putting the public at risk — from operating without a licensed pharmacist to not properly documenting prescriptions to not properly utilizing patient profiles,” the decision read. “Each aspect of the Respondents misconduct leads to patient harm, including the apparent gaps in Mr. Woo’s basic knowledge and understanding.”

Woo was found guilty in 2017 of similar charges.

According to the hearing documents, Woo didn’t show up at either of the hearings for these charges, and didn’t offer any defence.

Woo’s licence to work as a pharmacist was temporarily suspended. To get it back, he’ll have to pass the Pharmacist Qualifying Exam. If that happens, he’ll have to practise for 160 hours under another licensed pharmacist.

For Dewdney Drugs Ltd. to open again, the registrar will have to approve the pharmacist to work in Woo’s place. Then, for three years, the pharmacy and Woo will be subject to annual inspections, for which he’ll have to pay $1,500 apiece.

Woo and his business also will have to pay the cost of the investigation and hearing. That figure is $42,000.