A pharmacy technician at a Minnesota pharmacy diverted a wide range of controlled substances while the pharmacy's pharmacist-in-charge was responsible for inventory controls. The DEA theft and loss form later submitted by the pharmacy reported losses of twenty-five different controlled substances totaling 18,269 tablets and capsules and 143 ml of liquids and injectables. A large quantity of gabapentin was also found to be missing.
The Board of Pharmacy's order focused on the supervising pharmacist rather than the technician. It found the pharmacist-in-charge failed to adequately supervise the technician and failed to institute appropriate safeguards for controlled substances. In particular, the technician had been allowed full management of the pharmacy's controlled substance inventory with no separation of duties, such as verification of inventory accuracy by a staff pharmacist.
At its September 2020 meeting the Board issued a stipulation and consent order reprimanding the pharmacist and prohibiting her from serving as pharmacist-in-charge of any Minnesota pharmacy. The case illustrates the Board's position that the pharmacist-in-charge bears responsibility for controlled substance accountability, independent of the technician's own conduct.