Edmonton pharmacist suspended for unprofessional conduct

A Hearing Tribunal for the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) has ordered the suspension of an Edmonton pharmacist for unprofessional conduct. Hanna Yoo was found to have accessed a person’s health information without any authorized purpose. The eight separate, unauthorized accesses of the person’s Provincial electronic health records (Netcare) occurred over a 15-month period.

The person was not a patient of Yoo and did not have a personal relationship with her. The Hearing Tribunal found that Yoo misused her authority as a health information custodian and pharmacist. Although there was no information to suggest Yoo disclosed the health information of the person, the Hearing Tribunal found that Yoo’s conduct was unprofessional and warranted sanctions.

The Tribunal imposed significant penalties, even though there had been no previous history of unprofessional conduct on the part of Yoo, there was no disclosure of patient health information, and Yoo admitted to her unprofessional conduct. The Hearing Tribunal ordered the following:

• • a reprimand;
  • a three-month suspension, with the first month to be served from August 1-31, 2024, and the remaining two months to be held in abeyance, pending there being no further privacy concerns for a period of two years;
  • the successful completion of an ethics course, at Yoo’s own cost, within one year. Should Yoo be unsuccessful in completing the ethics course within the year, her practice permit shall be suspended until she receives an unconditional pass;
  • an order that Yoo must disclose the Hearing Tribunal’s written decision to any pharmacy employer or licensee for a period of two years; and
  • a payment of 50 per cent of the costs of the investigation and hearing, to a maximum of $8,000.

Rationale for the Tribunal’s decision is reflected in its following statements:

• Ms. Yoo’s conduct undermined the integrity of the profession because her decisions undermined both the intent and spirit of the regulations that are established to protect the public and as a consequence erodes the trust that the public places in the profession.
• Repeatedly accessing an individual’s Netcare records without an authorized purpose is a serious breach of the standards to which pharmacists are rightly held. Understandably, Ms. Yoo’s conduct had a significant negative impact on [the individual], when [the individual] learned of it. Satisfying one’s curiosity or indulging in a “clicking” habit is no excuse for a pharmacist to access an individual’s Netcare records.
• The orders imposed by the Hearing Tribunal should send a message to the public and the legislature that the College takes regulation of the profession seriously, and that failure to meet the expectations for the profession will be met with serious consequences.

The Tribunal’s complete decision on merit and sanctions can be found on the ACP website.

Barry Strader,
Communications Director
Alberta College of Pharmacy