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Southeast Michigan Pharmacist and Pharmacy's Controlled Substance License Summarily Suspended for Over Dispensing Controlled Substances
Media Contact: LARA Communications 517-373-9280
Email: mediainfo@michigan.gov
June 14, 2018 – The Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) served orders summarily suspending the controlled substance license of Carpenter Pharmacy of Hamtramck and the pharmacist license of Hien Dien Ha, who is responsible for the pharmacy’s compliance with the Public Health Code.
The Michigan Public Health Code provides for summary suspension of licenses when the public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action.
LARA also served accompanying administrative complaints on Carpenter Pharmacy and Ha detailing their alleged dispensing of controlled substances without good faith and a failure to maintain effective controls against diversion.
LARA’s complaint specifically alleges that Carpenter Pharmacy was a top dispenser of several commonly abused and diverted controlled substances, including high-dose oxycodone, high-dose oxymorphone, and promethazine with codeine syrup.
An inspection of Carpenter Pharmacy found that 39 bottles of promethazine with codeine syrup were inexplicably unaccounted for, according to the administrative complaint.
Ha also acknowledged dispensing to individual and groups of patients who traveled from outside Hamtramck’s immediate geography to fill oxymorphone and oxycodone prescriptions, according to the administrative complaint.
An order of summary suspension is a temporary measure to protect the public and not a final determination that a licensee has violated the Public Health Code.
LARA encourages all concerned residents, patients, parents and peers to file complaints against health professionals who may allegedly be risking public health, safety or welfare.
LARA values and relies on complaints from patients and residents to spur investigations into licensed health professionals who are potentially violating the Public Health Code. Each and every complaint received by the department is reviewed and analyzed by professional licensing staff.
For more information on filing a complaint with the department, visit Michigan.gov/BPL or review the Citizen’s Guide to Filing a Complaint.
For more information about LARA, please visit www.michigan.gov/lara
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