Chapter 4729:1-4 | Discipline and Duty to Report

Rule 4729:1-4-01 | Disciplinary actions.

• Effective: April 25, 2022
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) As used in this rule:

(1) "Dishonesty" means any action by a licensee, registrant or applicant to include, but is not limited to, making any statement that deceives, misrepresents or misleads, or be a party to or an accessory to any fraudulent or deceitful practice or transaction in the practice of pharmacy or in the operation or conduct of a pharmacy.

(2) "Unprofessional conduct" has the same meaning as defined in division (C) of section 4729.16 of the Revised Code and shall also include conduct that is detrimental to the best interests of the public, including conduct that endangers the health, safety or welfare of a patient or client. Such conduct shall include, but not be limited to, the following acts: coercion, intimidation, harassment, sexual harassment, improper use of private health information, threats, degradation of character, indecent or obscene conduct, and theft.

(B)

(1) The state board of pharmacy, after notice and hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, may impose any one or more of the following sanctions on a pharmacist or applicant for a pharmacist license if the board finds the individual engaged in any of the conduct set forth in paragraph (B)(2) of this rule:

(a) Revoke, suspend, restrict, limit, or refuse to grant or renew a license;

(b) Reprimand or place the license holder on probation;

(c) Impose a monetary penalty or forfeiture not to exceed in severity any fine designated under the Revised Code for a similar offense, or in the case of a violation of a section of the Revised Code that does not bear a penalty, a monetary penalty or forfeiture of not more than five hundred dollars.

(2) The board may impose the sanctions listed in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule if the board finds a pharmacist or applicant for a pharmacist license:

(a) Has a criminal conviction for, judicial finding of guilt of, or plea of guilty to a disqualifying offense.

(b) Engaged in dishonesty or unprofessional conduct in the practice of pharmacy.

(c) Is addicted to or abusing alcohol or drugs or is impaired physically or mentally to such a degree as to render the pharmacist unfit to practice pharmacy.

(d) Violated, conspired to violate, attempted to violate, or aided and abetted the violation of any of the provisions of Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, sections 3715.52 to 3715.72 of the Revised Code, Chapter 2925., 3796., 3719. or 4752. of the Revised Code, or any rule adopted by the board under those provisions.

(e) Permitted someone other than a pharmacist or pharmacy intern to practice pharmacy.

(f) Knowingly lent the pharmacist's name to an illegal practitioner of pharmacy or had a professional connection with an illegal practitioner of pharmacy.

(g) Divided or agreed to divide remuneration made in the practice of pharmacy with any other individual, including, but not limited to, any licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs or any owner, manager, or employee of a health care facility, residential care facility, or nursing home.

(h) Violated the terms of a consult agreement entered into pursuant to section 4729.39 of the Revised Code.

(i) Committed fraud, misrepresentation, or deception in applying for or securing a license issued by the board under this chapter or under Chapter 3796., 3715., 3719. or 4752. of the Revised Code.

(j) Failed to comply with an order of the board or a settlement agreement.

(k) Violated any state or federal law, regulation or rule regardless of the jurisdiction in which the acts were committed, except for minor traffic violations such as parking violations, speeding tickets and violations such as failure to obey a red light, failure to use a turn signal or expired vehicle registration.

(l) Has been disciplined by the state board of pharmacy pursuant to section 4729.16 of the Revised Code.

(m) Has been the subject of any of the following by the drug enforcement administration or licensing agency of any state or jurisdiction:

(i) A disciplinary action that resulted in the suspension, probation, surrender or revocation of the person's license or registration.

(ii) A disciplinary action that was based, in whole or in part, on the person's inappropriate prescribing, dispensing, diverting, administering, storing, securing, personally furnishing, compounding, supplying or selling a controlled substance or other dangerous drug.

(n) Failed to conform to prevailing standards of care of similar pharmacists under the same or similar circumstances, whether or not actual injury to a patient is established.

(o) Has been subject to any of the following:

(i) A finding by a court of the person's eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction; or

(ii) A finding by a court of the person's eligibility for treatment or intervention in lieu of conviction in another jurisdiction.

(p) Has been granted entry into a diversion program, deferred prosecution program, or the equivalent thereof.

(q) Cannot practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of care by reason of mental illness or physical illness, including, but not limited to, physical deterioration that adversely affects cognitive, motor, or perceptive skills.

Last updated September 6, 2024 at 11:56 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4729.26, 4729.16, 9.79
Amplifies: 4729.12
Five Year Review Date: 4/25/2027
Prior Effective Dates: 7/1/1991, 4/28/2016, 5/1/2018

Rule 4729:1-4-02 | Duty to report.

• Effective: April 25, 2022
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) As used in this rule:

(1) "Error in dispensing" or "prescription error" means an act or omission of clinical significance relating to the dispensing of a drug. An error in dispensing may be considered a violation of division (A)(2) of section 3715.52 and section 3715.64 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Harm" means impairment of the physical, emotional, or psychological function or structure of the body and/or pain resulting therefrom.

(3) "Intervention" means a change in therapy or active medical/surgical treatment.

(4) "Intervention necessary to sustain life" means cardiovascular and respiratory support (e.g., CPR, defibrillation, intubation, etc.).

(5) "Reckless behavior" means a person who acts recklessly or who is reckless. A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, the person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the person's conduct is likely to cause a certain result or is likely to be of a certain nature. A person is reckless with respect to circumstances when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, the person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such circumstances are likely to exist.

(6) "Unprofessional conduct" has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (A) of rule 4729:1-4-01 of the Administrative Code.

(B) Pursuant to section 4729.10 of the Revised Code, a pharmacist who has knowledge, from direct observation or objective evidence, of violations described in paragraph (C) of this rule shall report such conduct to the state board of pharmacy.

(C) The following shall be reported to the board:

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (C)(1)(a) of this rule, conduct indicating an individual licensed or registered by the board is addicted to or is suspected to be abusing alcohol, drugs or other chemical substances or impaired physically or mentally to such a degree as to render the individual unfit to carry out their professional duties.

(a) A pharmacist shall not be required to report in accordance with this rule if the pharmacist becomes aware of any condition described in paragraph (C)(1) of this rule as a result of either:

(i) The pharmacist's treatment of the individual for the condition; or

(ii) The pharmacist having access to the individual's protected health information.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (H) of this rule, violations, attempts to violate, or aiding and abetting in the violation of any of the provisions of Chapters 4729., 4752., 3715., 3719., 3796., 2925., and 2913. of the Revised Code, or any rule adopted by the board under those provisions, by an individual or entity licensed or registered by the board.

(3) Conduct by a pharmacy technician trainee, registered pharmacy technician, certified pharmacy technician, pharmacy intern or pharmacist that constitutes unprofessional conduct or dishonesty as defined in rule 4729:1-4-01 of the Administrative Code.

(D)

(1) Pursuant to section 4729.23 of the Revised Code, the identity of the pharmacist making a report in accordance with this rule shall remain confidential.

(2) Notwithstanding the confidentiality provided in accordance with paragraph (D)(1) of this rule, a pharmacist may be required to testify in a disciplinary proceeding as to the conduct or violations listed in paragraph (C) of this rule without disclosing the pharmacist was the reporting individual.

(E) Reporting required in accordance with this rule shall be made in writing, either by mail, using the board's online complaint form (available on the board's web site: www.pharmacy.ohio.gov), or by telephone and shall include the following information:

(1) The name of the licensee, registrant or other individual who may have committed a violation listed in paragraph (C) of this rule;

(2) The violation which is believed to have occurred; and

(3) The date(s) of and place(s) of occurrence(s), if known.

(F) A licensed pharmacist shall notify the board of any of the following:

(1) Any criminal conviction for, judicial finding of guilt of, or plea of guilty to a disqualifying offense within ten days after the date of conviction.

(2) The pharmacist is convicted of, plead guilty to, is subject to a judicial finding of eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction in this state under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code or the equivalent thereof in another jurisdiction within ten days after the individual is deemed eligible.

(3) The pharmacist is granted entry into a diversion program, deferred prosecution program, or the equivalent thereof within ten days after the individual is granted entry into a program.

(4) Any arrest for a felony within ten days after the arrest.

(G) A pharmacist shall notify the board of any disciplinary licensing or registration action taken by another state against the licensee within ten days of the notice action. This includes, but is not limited to, a disciplinary action that is stayed pending appeal.

(H) An error in dispensing shall not be required to be reported pursuant to paragraph (C) of this rule except when the error is the result of reckless behavior or unprofessional conduct and meets any of the following per the national coordinating council for "Medication Error Reporting and Prevention's Index for Categorizing Medication Errors" (2/20/2001):

(1) An error occurred that may have contributed to or resulted in temporary harm to the patient and required intervention;

(2) An error occurred that may have contributed to or resulted in temporary harm to the patient and required initial or prolonged hospitalization;

(3) An error occurred that may have contributed to or resulted in permanent patient harm;

(4) An error occurred that required intervention necessary to sustain life; or

(5) An error occurred that may have contributed to or resulted in the patient's death.

(I) Pursuant to section 4729.10 of the Revised Code, in the absence of fraud or bad faith, a person who reports in accordance with this rule or testifies in any adjudication conducted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code is not liable to any person for damages in a civil action as a result of the report or testimony.

Last updated September 6, 2024 at 11:56 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4729.10, 4729.26, 3719.28, 9.79
Amplifies: 4729.08, 4729.16
Five Year Review Date: 3/1/2030