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An Auckland pharmacist, Park Ung Wong, saw his registration canceled after illegally prescribing excessive doses of medication to patients, which led a man to overdose.
An Auckland pharmacist who gave a drug addict a deadly mix of non-prescription drugs saw his registration canceled.
Park Ung Wong (Terrence) was a registered pharmacist at Birkenhead Avenue Wong, which he owned and operated.
In 2016, Wong pled guilty to five charges of selling and supplying prescription drugs, restricted drugs and forgeries to the North Shore District Court.
He was sentenced to ten months of house arrest and ordered to pay $ 30,000 in repairs to the family of the man to whom he prescribed medication.
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In a decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal of Health Practitioners made public Thursday, Wong's registration has been canceled. it has been forbidden to reapply for a period of two years.
The court said that Wong's recidivism, which occurred between September 2013 and July 2015, was "among the most serious for a pharmacist".
According to the court, one of Wong's male clients was addicted to zopiclone and was on alert at a pharmacy nationwide to prevent retailers from giving him the drug.
Zopiclone, a prescription medication used to treat insomnia, is usually prescribed only in the short term because of its addictive nature.
It is also known to present various risks to the health of patients, including a risk of death. overdose.
In an effort to obtain the drug, the man went to Wong's pharmacy in February 2014 with a false prescription.
Wong called the doctor named on the prescription but this doctor told him that no prescription had been made. The doctor also reminded Wong that the man was on a short list.
Wong pleaded guilty to forgery, creating a criminal nuisance and providing prescription drugs to North Shore District Court in 2016
Nevertheless, Wong filled the prescription and sold the zopiclone man that day and on other occasions.
He also admitted to having sold to man over 5,000 nurofen tablets containing codeine and ibuprofen – which can prove to be a deadly mix when he is taken with zopiclone.
Each Nurofen package contained 30 tablets, and 176 packages had been sold to the man without a prescription, according to the court.
In January 2015, the man was placed in intensive care after an overdose of zopiclone and codeine.
He died a few days later.
Although he was made aware of the death of his patient in January 2015, Wong "did not stop his dangerous delivery practices, but continued to unlawfully engage in drug abuse." other patients, "said the court.
He tried to cover his tracks by forging an order in the name of a doctor who was distributing drugs to the deceased.
Wong also provided patients with his personal bank details for payment, and hid distribution records.
Her overzealous prescription also saw a woman hospitalized with "deadly health conditions" due to excessive consumption of Nurofen Plus.
Nurofen Plus is a combination of ibuprofen and codeine.
The woman told the hospital staff that she was consuming two packs a day, which allowed her to have easy access to medication.
REUTERS / JASON REED
One of Wong's patients was hospitalized at the end of his life. threatening condition after consuming two packets of Nurofen Plus based on codeine per day.
The court found that Wong's recidivism over a prolonged period was showing a "serious lack of insight".
He continued to distribute excessive amounts of medication, often illegally, and made multiple attempts to conceal what he was doing.
The court did not agree that Wong's conduct could be explained as that of a "young and naïve practitioner".
"In our opinion, Mr. Wong took advantage of his professional position to obtain financial gain and failed in his duty to act as a gatekeeper for patient safety," they said.
The court acknowledged that Wong had mitigating features, including his rehabilitation potential and that it was his first offense.
However, patient safety and the need to establish professional standards must take precedence
Wong's registration was quashed, but it would be possible for him to reapply to the Board of Pharmacy after at least two years, provided that he undertakes a review of jurisdiction and does not not allowed to work alone
pay a fee of $ 7700
– Practical Information
