Pharmacists: Five Ways to Jeopardize Your License in Kansas

The main purpose of any state’s pharmacy board or other licensing organization is to protect the public’s health, welfare and safety by making sure that all individuals and entities meet that state’s rules and regulations through the process of registering and licensing. Simply stated, any state pharmacy board is looking to protect the general public, not individual pharmacists and their licenses. Therefore, it is important that pharmacists be aware of the potential risks that can lead to a complaint and potential investigation so that the licensee is able to avoid such mistakes. Here are five of the most common pharmacist errors that can trigger a complaint or an investigation by the Kansas Board of Pharmacy:

1)      Failure to Meet Licensing Requirement: The simplest way to avoid problems with your pharmacy board is to make sure that you are current with any and all licensing requirements for your state. All too often, pharmacists risk their licenses by failing to complete mandatory continuing education classes offered through an approved provider or to submit the necessary renewal fee.

2)      Conviction of a Crime: In most states, a pharmacist must disclose whether the pharmacist has been convicted, fined or otherwise disciplined for violating any drug or pharmacy laws. In Kansas, pharmacists must also report whether they have been charged with or convicted of any felony. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action or loss of license.

3)      Misappropriation of prescription medications: Illegal or unlawful conversion of a drug for a pharmacist’s own personal use or for the use of another is not only a serious crime but can also lead to the revocation of a pharmacists’ professional license. It does not matter whether the pharmacist benefited monetarily from the drug misappropriation.

4)      Substance Abuse and/or Addiction: Whether your abuse or addiction started innocently enough when you injured your back and became dependent on pain pills or if the addiction started because you had the access to the drugs, it does not matter. Pharmacists who have a problem with chemical dependency need help. Pharmacists in Kansas can reach out to CIPP (Committee on Impaired Provider Practice) by contacting their help line. Each call is kept confidential and is not known to the Kansas Board of Pharmacy. 

5)      Gross Negligence or Incompetence in Performing Duties: The basic rule is if you are not sure of your professional duties and/or obligations in any given situation, find out. Remember some of the most common errors occur when a pharmacist is acting carelessly and without a full investigation into his or her obligations.

If you are a pharmacist who has just received notice of a pending investigation by the Kansas or Missouri Board of Pharmacy, contact the Sanger Law Office. We invite you to call 785-979-4353 to schedule a free and completely confidential consultation. The team of seasoned professionals at the Sanger Law Office will investigate the pending allegations against you and prepare a strategy that meets your individual and professional needs.