Under the Health Professions Act, there is now a range of health professionals who can prescribe Schedule 1 drugs. Disciplinary decisions can result in the cancellation or suspension of a prescriber’s practice permit or conditions that limit or bar prescribing in whole or in part. There are also other forms of suspension which do not result from a finding of unprofessional conduct. These may include an order under section 65 of the Health Professions Act suspending a practice permit or imposing condition on a practice permit pending an investigation and discipline proceeding, or an order relating to incapacity under section 118 of the Health Professions Act. Where the college is aware of these orders, notice will be provided to the regulated members in order to allow them to ensure that
- they do not fill prescriptions from a prescription issued after the date that the prescriber’s ability to prescribe has been restricted by cancellation, suspension, or a specific condition on a practice permit that prohibits prescribing activities; and
- they carefully review any prescription issued before the date that the prescriber’s ability to prescribe has been restricted by cancellation, suspension, or a specific condition relating to prescribing. The obligation to carefully review any prescription and determine whether it is appropriate applies to every prescription, but it applies with greater emphasis where there are orders under the HPA prohibiting or restrict prescribing. This does not mean that prescriptions, issued before the date of an order prohibiting or restricting prescribing, are invalid. It simply means that the pharmacist must pay particular attention to the pharmacist’s duties under Standard 6 of the Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians.