The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7476 p512
3 November 2007

Disciplinary Committee decisions

The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain met on Wednesday 10, Thursday 11 and Friday 12 October 2007 and heard the following inquiries, under Statutory Committee rules (as provided for in the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2007):

1. Following the inquiry into Arunkumar Manibhai Patel (registration number 68424) and Kashipharm Ltd (identification number 1001998) the committee directed the removal of Mr Patel’s name from the Register. The committee found proved the allegation that the dishonest endorsement of prescriptions for Gaviscon and E45 Cream; the erroneous endorsement of prescriptions for Epaderm, Alpha Keri Bath Oil, Diprobase Cream and E45 Emollient Bath Oil; the submission for payment to the Prescription Pricing Authority of the prescriptions as set out above; the resulting overpayment to the company; and the failure of Mr Patel to notify the PPA of the wrongdoing and offer repayment when he became aware of it, amounted to misconduct. Under Section 11 of the Pharmacy Act 1954, the direction to remove Mr Patel’s name from the Register is not to take effect until the expiration of a period of three months from the date on which notice of removal was given or in a case where an appeal has been brought against the direction, until the appeal is determined or withdrawn. The committee further directed that no further action should be taken against Kashipharm Ltd.

2. Following the inquiry into Andrew Graham Shepherd (registration number 77567) the committee directed the removal of Mr Shepherd’s name from the Register. The committee found proved the allegation that a failure to comply with the requirements of Key Responsibility 3 and of Part 2 A.l(a) and (m) of the Code of Ethics amounted to misconduct. The committee also found proved a conviction at Ceredigion Magistrates’ Court on 24 April 2002 of driving a motor vehicle after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit, contrary to section 5(1)A of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. Under Section 11 of the Pharmacy Act 1954, the direction to remove Mr Shepherd’s name from the Register is not to take effect until the expiration of a period of three months from the date on which notice of removal was given or in a case where an appeal has been brought against the direction, until the appeal is determined or withdrawn.

Fitness to Practise Secretariat