![\"Text](\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/a\/assets\/texttospeech.svg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Listen to this article<\/p>\n
Estimated 4 minutes<\/p>\n
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> dated Aug. 25.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n The punishment will protect the public by deterring similar behaviour in the future while providing Ruan an opportunity for rehabilitation, the tribunal said.<\/p>\n CBC News reached out to Ruan’s lawyer, but he declined to comment on the decision.<\/p>\n ‘Undermined integrity of the profession’\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He also admitted to extending methadone prescriptions “inappropriately and without authorization,” the decision said.<\/p>\n Other offences included creating or allowing the creation of false pharmacy records showing prescription dispensations that did not occur, and prescribing benzodiazepines without documentation.<\/p>\n WATCH | Alberta pharmacies continue to be plagued by forged prescriptions: Alberta pharmacies continue to be plagued by forged prescriptions<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “The admitted conduct was not a single technical lapse,” the decision said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Across multiple patients, Mr. Ruan altered or continued controlled-substance therapy without the prescriber\u2019s 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.”<\/p>\n Methadone is an opioid medication<\/a> used to treat severe pain and drug addiction.\u00a0<\/p>\n When used for the latter purpose \u2014 known as opioid agonist therapy (OAT) \u2014 treatment may require a pharmacist to witness a patient taking the medication, according to an article<\/a> from the Alberta College of Pharmacy.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792020985_283_default.jpg\")
<\/p>\n