Ohio Pharmacist Suspended for Mixing Wrong Medications

The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy (Ohio Board) recently suspended a local pharmacist’s license after the pharmacist admitted to personally compounding medications so he did not have to add the total dose prescribed to the IV for particularly dangerous drugs.

The pharmacist, Ernest Perrin, of Youngstown, OH, indicated he did this to reduce costs.

A copy of Perrin’s violations are detailed in the Ohio BOard’s Summary Suspension Order dated February 24, 2017.

According to hospital records, during a seven week period from early January 2017 to February 23, 2017, indicate the following:

  • 105 vials of Cubicin (daptomycin) 500mg were used, but only 9 vials had been ordered from the wholesaler;
  • 63 vials of Tygacil (tigecycline) 50mg were used, but only 30 vials were ordered;
  • 78 vials of Zerbaxa (ceftolozane & tazobactam) 1.5mg were used, but only 40 vials were ordered; and
  • 17 vials of Invanz (ertapenam) 1gm were used, but 10 were ordered.
Each violation of the Ohio Revised Code would be a misdemeanor of the fourth degree and punishable by a maximum penalty of $250. According to the Summary Suspension, Perrin is able to request a hearing within 30 days.

Baer Law will keep you up to date on the case.