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A Calgary pharmacist who admitted to improperly dispensing and prescribing controlled substances to patients and falsifying pharmacy records has been found guilty of professional misconduct.
David Ruan, the owner and licensee of eRx Pharmacy located in the southwest neighbourhood of Sunalta, engaged in conduct posing “a meaningful risk to patient safety” on various occasions between December 2023 and October 2025, according to an Alberta College of Pharmacy decision dated Aug. 25.
Despite Ruan taking responsibility for his actions, the decision said, the disciplinary tribunal imposed heavy restrictions on Ruan’s licence, including not acting as a licensee until the college is satisfied he has completed various courses on ethics and boundaries.
The punishment will protect the public by deterring similar behaviour in the future while providing Ruan an opportunity for rehabilitation, the tribunal said.
CBC News reached out to Ruan’s lawyer, but he declined to comment on the decision.
‘Undermined integrity of the profession’
According to an agreed statement of facts, Ruan admitted to changing the dispensation or dosing of methadone prescriptions for eight patients without notifying the prescriber or seeking their authorization.
He also admitted to extending methadone prescriptions “inappropriately and without authorization,” the decision said.
Other offences included creating or allowing the creation of false pharmacy records showing prescription dispensations that did not occur, and prescribing benzodiazepines without documentation.
WATCH | Alberta pharmacies continue to be plagued by forged prescriptions:
Alberta pharmacies continue to be plagued by forged prescriptions
Alberta pharmacies are dealing with an influx of forged prescriptions. The Alberta College of Pharmacy says 149 forgery attempts were reported to them last year, and there has already been 132 reported so far this year. Some pharmacists say the problem is increasingly difficult to address.
“The admitted conduct was not a single technical lapse,” the decision said.
“Across multiple patients, Mr. Ruan altered or continued controlled-substance therapy without the prescriber’s authorization or timely communication, permitted carries or split dosing contrary to prescribed directions, failed to ensure missed doses were reported, and prescribed or extended therapy without documenting the assessments required to support those decisions.”
Methadone is an opioid medication used to treat severe pain and drug addiction.
When used for the latter purpose — known as opioid agonist therapy (OAT) — treatment may require a pharmacist to witness a patient taking the medication, according to an article from the Alberta College of Pharmacy.
Benzodiazepines are often used as sedatives and tranquilizers, slowing brain activity to help treat sleep, seizure or anxiety disorders.
The decision noted OAT patients are a vulnerable group often at risk of negative outcomes, and “the onus is on the pharmacist, not the patient” to uphold the wellbeing of the patient.
It added Ruan’s actions “demonstrated a lack of skill and judgement,” while violating professional standards and codes of ethics, such as the Health Professions Act.
“Mr. Ruan undermined the integrity of the profession by conducting himself in a manner that could increase the risk in the vulnerable patient population he served,” the decision said.
‘No evidence of actual harm’
Ruan became a registered pharmacist in Alberta in 2008. He has been the owner and licensee of eRx Pharmacy since 2019.
The decision also said Ruan was cooperative throughout the hearing, and had no previous disciplinary history. It added he was also dealing with his father’s illness and death last spring.
His counsel also noted during the hearing “there was no evidence of actual harm being done, even though the potential for harm existed.”
Ruan must provide a copy of the tribunal’s decision to any prospective pharmacy employer for five years.
He was also ordered to pay $10,000 for the costs of the hearing.