RPSGB V Mr DK

A case considered by the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

28 August 2009

This case was considered by the Disciplinary Committee of the RPSGB. The case involved a conviction for dangerous driving contrary to s.2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 where the practitioner received a suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work. There was a further order for non residential mental health treatment (18 months), a 30 month driving ban and an order for compensation. There were a number of serious features that linked the offence to the professional practice of the pharmacist as Mr. DK self medicated and abused his position as a pharmacist in doing so. He knew or ought to have known the drugs he took carry a caution against driving if affected.

The Committee had no hesitation in determining Mr DK was impaired, which was something that had already been conceded by the practitioner in earlier correspondence. Mr DK was not present or represented when the issue of sanction was considered. As part of the process consideration was given to the documentation from the criminal case, particularly the Judge who stated it had been an outrageous piece of driving; it being only a matter of luck that no-one was killed or seriously injured.

The conduct of DK was deemed to have brought the profession into disrepute and the Committee felt that there was no other option than to order his name be erased from the register.