Tamworth pharmacist banned from working as pharmacist-in-charge for 12 months by NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal

Jhaii Kiet Nghi Le managed a Tamworth pharmacy until the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) took him to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

It found Le had engaged in unsatisfactory professional conduct after he disclosed confidential patient information without reason, and took 100 x 10mg Ritalin tablets and 20 x 5mg Antenex for himself in the name of a patient.

The HCCC also alleged the 47-year-old man took 63 x 20mg OxyContin tablets for himself in the name of one patient, and 30 x 40mg of the same under the name of another patient - but this allegation was unproven.

The tribunal found he hid the drugs he had taken in a personal bag that he improperly kept in the dispensing area.

The tribunal found all but the Oxycontin allegations proven, and banned him from working as a pharmacist-in-charge for 12 months.

It was also decided he could only practise under supervision. As part of the evidence supplied by the HCCC, the court heard that Le had taken medications from the pharmacy to put together Webster packs at home. Webster packs are provided to a number of nursing homes and community patients, and contain a schedule of tablets to be taken across one or two weeks; separated by day and time of day.

In its summary, the tribunal found the practitioner's conduct "as falling significantly below the standard reasonably expected of a practitioner of an equivalent level of training or experience".

Read also:

As part of the orders, Le must advise the NSW Pharmacy Council as soon as practicable if he starts work with any pharmacy.

He must make the employer aware of the conditions put on his license and the reasons for the tribunal's decision if he lands a job within 12 months of the court case.

Le was reprimanded and ordered to pay the court costs of the HCCC by the tribunal.