RANGELEY – Pharmacist Joey McLafferty’s state license will remain temporarily suspended until the state Board of Pharmacy meets Nov. 8 to consider restoring it, Assistant Attorney General Andrew Black said Tuesday.
McLafferty’s pharmacy license was suspended in June. The state board was expected to consider restoring McLafferty’s license on Tuesday, but he hasn’t passed the state exam yet.
In August, the board found McLafferty, 71, owner and operator of Riddle’s Pharmacy in Rangeley, had violated state and federal pharmacy regulations, including failure to secure prescription drugs, failure to maintain perpetual inventory on controlled substances and failure to report missing drugs to authorities in 2004. That ruling came after the board’s two-day hearing last month. Witnesses testified on McLafferty’s behalf at the hearing and said they had never had a problem with McLafferty’s service.
The state launched its investigation in May when police contacted them after three teenage girls, ages 15 and 16, who had worked at the store were accused of stealing prescription drugs. The girls pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case in August.
The state board issued a formal decision Tuesday on the order and sanctions drafted in August on McLafferty’s license, with one modification, Black said.
In its sanctions against McLafferty, the board said he could have his pharmacy license restored provided he passed the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination and work under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist in good standing for at least 14 days. The supervising pharmacist would then be required to make a written report to the state.
But McLafferty took and failed the state examination on Sept. 7, Black said.
That puts everything a month behind, Black said.
McLafferty has to wait 30 days to retake the exam and then he has to work 14 days under supervision. Those requirements couldn’t be completed by the state board’s October meeting, Black said.
In August, the board put McLafferty’s license on probation for seven months. His state pharmacy license expires Dec. 31, according to state information.
Other sanctions against McLafferty included a $10,700 fine with all but $4,000 suspended, $3,178 to pay for the hearing and the requirement to continue to receive counseling.
In the meantime, McLafferty has hired other pharmacists to fill prescriptions for customers who’d otherwise have to travel 45 miles one way to the nearest drugstore in Farmington.
Attempts to reach McLafferty and his attorney were unsuccessful Tuesday.
However, a person answering the phone at the drugstore said the pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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