Kelowna pharmacist fined $2,000 and has licence suspended

A Kelowna pharmacist has been suspended for three months for filling prescriptions for family members and then trying to cover it up. According to an Aug. 12 College of Pharmacists of BC consent agreement, Sameh Elbably handed out 19 prescriptions for himself and his family without...

Kelowna pharmacist fined $2,000 and has licence suspended
A Kelowna pharmacist has been suspended for three months for filling prescriptions for family members and then trying to cover it up. According to an Aug. 12 College of Pharmacists of BC consent agreement, Sameh Elbably handed out 19 prescriptions for himself and his family without valid authorization. The regulator said after dishing out the medication Elbably tried to cover it up by reserving the prescriptions in the computer system. The regulator described his conduct as "unethical." Elbably falsified four verbal prescriptions and then gave the College "disingenuous information" to his colleagues and the regulator's investigators. He had an "apparent intent to mislead" the College, the consent order said. READ MORE: Kelowna mortgage broker fined $30K loses appeal https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelowna-mortgage-broker-fined-30k-loses-appeal/it106226 Elbably also dispensed six "inappropriate" emergency prescriptions for his spouse. The regulator didn't say where Elbably worked when the infractions occurred or when they happened, only saying it was a "severe and prolonged pattern of behaviour." The college said he showed a lack of understanding and accountability about his conduct. READ MORE: Vernon hiker rescues distressed mink wrapped up in fishing line https://infotel.ca/newsitem/vernon-outdoors-enthusiast-rescues-distressed-mink-wrapped-up-in-fishing-line/it106219 "The (regulator) believed (his) explanations and justifications for his conduct were not valid. They also perceived (his) decision-making to be lacking and judged the breadth and scope of his conduct as indicative of poor judgement," the consent order read. The pharmacist signed a consent agreement with the regulator admitting to his conduct. Elbably was stripped of his licence for 90 days and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. He'll also have to pass an ethics course and appear in front of the College for a verbal reprimand. To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer mailto:bbulmer@infonews.ca  or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .