B.C. pharmacist fined and suspended for a year for diverting and reselling prescription medication

The BC College of Pharmacists has fined a pharmacist and suspended him for a year for diverting and reselling prescription medication.

The college says in a recent ruling that Ian Petterson worked at a hospital pharmacy and sold its supplies and medication to a community pharmacy, then pocketed the cash.

A written disciplinary ruling says text messages and emails provided the evidence and that Petterson circumvented the hospital's policies and procedures aimed at preventing such theft and diversion.

He has been fined 35,000 dollars and must retake a licensing exam, though even if he passes it and is reinstated, his standing as a registered pharmacist will immediately be suspended for a year.