A former Tasmanian pharmacist has been banned from practising for two years after stealing controlled medications, including fentanyl and Ritalin, from her workplace.
The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) last month found Charley Rose Clark guilty of professional misconduct after she misappropriated drugs, cash and other items from the Chemist Warehouse stores where she worked.
The tribunal heard Clark took Schedule 4 and expired Schedule 8 medications between May 5 and 24 2021, storing them at her house and in her car rather than disposing of them legally.
Among the stolen items were 30 Ritalin tablets, 20 fentanyl patches, a Diazepam elixir, blank prescription pads and prescriptions made out to actual patients.
In total, the value of the stolen drugs and stock came to $2,355.
Clark also took money from co-workers’ wallets and from the pharmacy safe, dispensed medication to herself without a prescription and tried to hide evidence from police during a search.
In September 2021, she pleaded guilty to 39 criminal charges, including possession of controlled drugs, stealing, obstructing police and unlawful possession.
She was given a six-month suspended prison sentence.
The tribunal noted Clark’s mental health suffered during her employment, which was “compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and being isolated from much of her family, who were in Queensland”.
TASCAT said her behaviour represented “a significant breach of trust both as an employee and as a pharmacist” and posed a risk to public safety “through the uncontrolled availability of such medications”.
Clark voluntarily gave up her pharmacist registration in June 2021 and has since moved back to Queensland. She now works as a medical receptionist at her father’s GP clinic.
As well as the two-year disqualification, the tribunal issued a formal reprimand and banned her from providing any health services during that time.
However, an exception was made allowing her to continue working as a medical receptionist “provided that the role does not involve her handling, controlling or possessing medication”.
