Latest news with #HealthProfessionsAct
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
B.C. mom picks up her son's ADHD medication, is given an opioid instead
A mother on Vancouver Island is warning people to double check their prescriptions after she was accidentally dispensed the powerful opioid hydromorphone instead of her son's regular ADHD medication. Comox, B.C., resident Sarah Paquin, 31, says she still shudders to think about what could have happened to her nine-year-old son had her husband not noticed the medication looked different before he gave it to him. "It was terrifying," Paquin said, standing in her front yard and playing with one of her three boys. "One simple little mistake like that could have ended horribly." WATCH | 9-year-old dispensed opioid in pharmacy mix-up: Paquin says she didn't think too much of it when she went to pick up her son Declan's medication last week and the staff member at her local Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy didn't check her ID or take out the prescription from the bag. The next day, her husband was about to give Declan his medication when he saw the pills were a different colour and shape than normal. Her husband looked at the bottle and noticed the prescription was for someone else, and that it was for hydromorphone. Right away he returned the pills to the pharmacy. "Immediately your mind goes to the worst case scenario," Paquin said. "The results could have been catastrophic and it just makes my heart sink to think about what could have happened." Hydromorphone is a powerful opioid that is two to eight times stronger than morphine and is often used to treat acute pain or chronic cancer pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can cause serious unwanted effects or fatal overdose in children. Human error CBC News reached out to Loblaws, the company that owns Shoppers Drug Mart. In a written statement, the company said the incident was a case of "human error" that never should have happened. "We have controls in place to minimize risks like this — where the patient was handed the wrong prescription bag — and the associate will review these with employees to avoid a similar situation in the future," the company said. Paquin says she has since heard from the pharmacist, who was very apologetic. She says he acknowledged that steps were missed and standards were dropped, and told her the employee who dispensed the medication has been suspended pending an internal investigation. Asking for accountability Despite his reassurances, Paquin has filed a complaint with the College of Pharmacists of B.C. "The pharmacy needs to take responsibility, be held accountable for what happened," she said. In an email, the college told CBC News it takes these types of errors very seriously. "We have legal requirements in the Health Professions Act bylaws in place to prevent these occurrences, including mandatory standards for prescription preparation to ensure accuracy of the prescription product and consultations for all prescriptions, to make sure clients understand their medication, how to take it properly, and address any questions," the college said. As part of pharmacists' consultation with clients, they are required to confirm the person's identity, name and the strength and purpose of the drug, it added. In 2023-24, the college says it received a total of 990 concerns through its intake process. Of those, 54 became formal complaints and investigations, 16 of which were medication related. Paquin decided to share her ordeal on social media, to warn others to check their prescription before taking it. "It's scary that it happened to us, but I'm also in a way kind of thankful that it happened to us and we caught it because it could have been given to somebody who didn't notice and got hurt," she said.
National Observer
14-05-2025
- Health
- National Observer
BC opioid rules were aimed at reducing overdoses. But they cut cancer patients' pain meds
Rule changes designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths in British Columbia in 2016 inadvertently harmed cancer and palliative-care patients by reducing their access to pain killers, a new study has found. The study published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal describes the impact of a practice standard issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC that June, about two months after the province declared a public health emergency over opioid deaths. The rule changes were designed to mitigate prescription drug misuse, including the over-prescribing of opioids among patients with chronic non-cancer related pain. The rules weren't meant for cancer and palliative-care patients, but lead author Dimitra Panagiotoglou said there was a "spillover" effect as doctors applied "aggressive tapering" of the painkillers. "(With) the ongoing messages that physicians were getting at the time — opioids being bad — individuals decided to pull back on their prescribing, but there was this larger population-level effect in doing so," she said. "We focus on these two groups because far and wide, it's considered completely acceptable to prescribe opioids for these groups and the concerns around opioids are very different," she said of cancer and palliative-care patients. There were already downward trends in opioid prescriptions for people with chronic non-cancer pain and those receiving palliative care, Panagiotoglou said, and the study shows that trend continued after the change. But among cancer patients, there was a surprising "nose dive" in access to opioids right after the release of the new standard, said Panagiotoglou, who is an associate professor in the department of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health at McGill University. The rules were legally enforceable, and physicians found non-compliant could be disciplined or fined under the Health Professions Act and College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC bylaws. The rules were revised in 2018 to address concerns that they were being misinterpreted. The changes in 2016 set a recommended dose ceiling at 90 morphine milligram equivalents or less per day and used "strong language" around co-prescribing with benzodiazepines given the drug poisoning risk, Panagiotoglou said. Among cancer patients, the study found opioid dispensations were 15 per cent lower per person than expected two years after the implementation of the 2016 rules. Over 30 days, that translates to 4.5 fewer days of supply, it says. For people receiving palliative care, the per-person dosage was 6.1 per cent lower, translating to 1.8 fewer days' supply, the study says, while for patients with chronic non-cancer pain — the target population of the rules — dispensations were 8.2 per cent lower. "Over time, people were seeing a meaningful decline in their doses and in the days supplied," Panagiotoglou said of the period between the implementation of the 2016 practice standard and its revision in 2018. The study did not include opioids dispensed in hospitals or long-term care facilities, rather for prescriptions for people living at home. The study says the changes led doctors to increase "aggressive tapering" of patients' medication. Panagiotoglou said evidence suggests this can lead to pain and increase in overdose risk by pushing people toward illicit opioids. The BC college revised its standard in 2018 in response to concerns that misinterpretation was leading to "more conservative prescribing to all patients," not just those with chronic non-cancer pain, the study says. "When the language relaxed and ceiling thresholds were removed, for example, there's this rebound effect where you see, in fact, the amount being prescribed kind of stabilizes or inflects upwards," Panagiotoglou said. The study concludes that its findings show how practice standards can modify physician behaviour, but also highlight "how misinterpretation can harm patients." Panagiotoglou said the findings underscore the potential for "unintended consequences" of sweeping changes to practice standards. Physicians must be careful prescribing opioids, she said, especially given the underlying context of the toxic drug crisis that has claimed more than 16,000 lives in BC since the health emergency was declared in 2016. But Panagiotoglou said it's important to include a diversity of voices at the decision-making table, such as patient-care advocacy groups. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC said in an email it could not comment on the study because it was not directly involved in the research. But it said the 2016 practice standard was informed by the "best available guidance at the time," and it has since been "revised substantially." "In the 2016 practice standard, (the college) was explicit in acknowledging and endorsing the use of aggressive pharmacotherapy in the context of active cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care," it said in the statement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
14-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C. opioid rules were to reduce overdoses. But they cut cancer patients' pain meds
Rule changes designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths in British Columbia in 2016 inadvertently harmed cancer and palliative-care patients by reducing their access to pain killers, a new study has found. The study published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal describes the impact of a practice standard issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. that June, about two months after the province declared a public health emergency over opioid deaths. The rule changes were designed to mitigate prescription drug misuse, including the over-prescribing of opioids among patients with chronic non-cancer related pain. The rules weren't meant for cancer and palliative-care patients, but lead author Dimitra Panagiotoglou said there was a 'spillover' effect as doctors applied 'aggressive tapering' of the painkillers. '(With) the ongoing messages that physicians were getting at the time — opioids being bad — individuals decided to pull back on their prescribing, but there was this larger population-level effect in doing so,' she said. 'We focus on these two groups because far and wide, it's considered completely acceptable to prescribe opioids for these groups and the concerns around opioids are very different,' she said of cancer and palliative-care patients. There were already downward trends in opioid prescriptions for people with chronic non-cancer pain and those receiving palliative care, Panagiotoglou said, and the study shows that trend continued after the change. But among cancer patients, there was a surprising 'nose dive' in access to opioids right after the release of the new standard, said Panagiotoglou, who is an associate professor in the department of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health at McGill University. The rules were legally enforceable, and physicians found non-compliant could be disciplined or fined under the Health Professions Act and College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC bylaws. The rules were revised in 2018 to address concerns that they were being misinterpreted. The changes in 2016 set a recommended dose ceiling at 90 morphine milligram equivalents or less per day and used 'strong language' around co-prescribing with benzodiazepines given the drug poisoning risk, Panagiotoglou said. Among cancer patients, the study found opioid dispensations were 15 per cent lower per person than expected two years after the implementation of the 2016 rules. Over 30 days, that translates to 4.5 fewer days of supply, it says. For people receiving palliative care, the per-person dosage was 6.1 per cent lower, translating to 1.8 fewer days' supply, the study says, while for patients with chronic non-cancer pain — the target population of the rules — dispensations were 8.2 per cent lower. 'Over time, people were seeing a meaningful decline in their doses and in the days supplied,' Panagiotoglou said of the period between the implementation of the 2016 practice standard and its revision in 2018. The study did not include opioids dispensed in hospitals or long-term care facilities, rather for prescriptions for people living at home. The study says the changes led doctors to increase 'aggressive tapering' of patients' medication. Panagiotoglou said evidence suggests this can lead to pain and increase in overdose risk by pushing people toward illicit opioids. The B.C. college revised its standard in 2018 in response to concerns that misinterpretation was leading to 'more conservative prescribing to all patients,' not just those with chronic non-cancer pain, the study says. 'When the language relaxed and ceiling thresholds were removed, for example, there's this rebound effect where you see, in fact, the amount being prescribed kind of stabilizes or inflects upwards,' Panagiotoglou said. The study concludes that its findings show how practice standards can modify physician behaviour, but also highlight 'how misinterpretation can harm patients.' Panagiotoglou said the findings underscore the potential for 'unintended consequences' of sweeping changes to practice standards. Physicians must be careful prescribing opioids, she said, especially given the underlying context of the toxic drug crisis that has claimed more than 16,000 lives in B.C. since the health emergency was declared in 2016. But Panagiotoglou said it's important to include a diversity of voices at the decision-making table, such as patient-care advocacy groups. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. said in an email it could not comment on the study because it was not directly involved in the research. But it said the 2016 practice standard was informed by the 'best available guidance at the time,' and it has since been 'revised substantially.' 'In the 2016 practice standard, (the college) was explicit in acknowledging and endorsing the use of aggressive pharmacotherapy in the context of active cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care,' it said in the statement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
14-05-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. opioid rules were to reduce overdoses. But they cut cancer patients' pain meds
Rule changes designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths in British Columbia in 2016 inadvertently harmed cancer and palliative-care patients by reducing their access to pain killers, a new study has found. The study published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal describes the impact of a practice standard issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. that June, about two months after the province declared a public health emergency over opioid deaths. The rule changes were designed to mitigate prescription drug misuse, including the over-prescribing of opioids among patients with chronic non-cancer related pain. The rules weren't meant for cancer and palliative-care patients, but lead author Dimitra Panagiotoglou said there was a 'spillover' effect as doctors applied 'aggressive tapering' of the painkillers. '(With) the ongoing messages that physicians were getting at the time — opioids being bad — individuals decided to pull back on their prescribing, but there was this larger population-level effect in doing so,' she said. 'We focus on these two groups because far and wide, it's considered completely acceptable to prescribe opioids for these groups and the concerns around opioids are very different,' she said of cancer and palliative-care patients. There were already downward trends in opioid prescriptions for people with chronic non-cancer pain and those receiving palliative care, Panagiotoglou said, and the study shows that trend continued after the change. But among cancer patients, there was a surprising 'nose dive' in access to opioids right after the release of the new standard, said Panagiotoglou, who is an associate professor in the department of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health at McGill University. The rules were legally enforceable, and physicians found non-compliant could be disciplined or fined under the Health Professions Act and College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC bylaws. The rules were revised in 2018 to address concerns that they were being misinterpreted. The changes in 2016 set a recommended dose ceiling at 90 morphine milligram equivalents or less per day and used 'strong language' around co-prescribing with benzodiazepines given the drug poisoning risk, Panagiotoglou said. Among cancer patients, the study found opioid dispensations were 15 per cent lower per person than expected two years after the implementation of the 2016 rules. Over 30 days, that translates to 4.5 fewer days of supply, it says. For people receiving palliative care, the per-person dosage was 6.1 per cent lower, translating to 1.8 fewer days' supply, the study says, while for patients with chronic non-cancer pain — the target population of the rules — dispensations were 8.2 per cent lower. 'Over time, people were seeing a meaningful decline in their doses and in the days supplied,' Panagiotoglou said of the period between the implementation of the 2016 practice standard and its revision in 2018. The study did not include opioids dispensed in hospitals or long-term care facilities, rather for prescriptions for people living at home. The study says the changes led doctors to increase 'aggressive tapering' of patients' medication. Panagiotoglou said evidence suggests this can lead to pain and increase in overdose risk by pushing people toward illicit opioids. The B.C. college revised its standard in 2018 in response to concerns that misinterpretation was leading to 'more conservative prescribing to all patients,' not just those with chronic non-cancer pain, the study says. 'When the language relaxed and ceiling thresholds were removed, for example, there's this rebound effect where you see, in fact, the amount being prescribed kind of stabilizes or inflects upwards,' Panagiotoglou said. The study concludes that its findings show how practice standards can modify physician behaviour, but also highlight 'how misinterpretation can harm patients.' Panagiotoglou said the findings underscore the potential for 'unintended consequences' of sweeping changes to practice standards. Physicians must be careful prescribing opioids, she said, especially given the underlying context of the toxic drug crisis that has claimed more than 16,000 lives in B.C. since the health emergency was declared in 2016. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. But Panagiotoglou said it's important to include a diversity of voices at the decision-making table, such as patient-care advocacy groups. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. said in an email it could not comment on the study because it was not directly involved in the research. But it said the 2016 practice standard was informed by the 'best available guidance at the time,' and it has since been 'revised substantially.' 'In the 2016 practice standard, (the college) was explicit in acknowledging and endorsing the use of aggressive pharmacotherapy in the context of active cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care,' it said in the statement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.
IOL News
23-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Bogus doctor arrested for illegally practising in Chatsworth
A BOGUS doctor who operated as a general practitioner (GP) from the surgery of the late Dr Govindaraj Muruvan, in Havenside Drive, in Chatsworth, treating hundreds of patients over the last three years, was arrested during a sting operation, last week. Ashley Ramsarup, 51, of Bellair, was arrested last Thursday and appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of illegally practising medicine. It is alleged that Ramsurap had issued a medical certificate under the name of Dr Muruvan to the investigator from the Health Professions Council of South Africa, who posed as a patient during their investigation. He was granted R2 000 bail at the Bayview SAPS after his arrest. The matter was adjourned to next month for further investigation. Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said Bayview police arrested Ramsarup for allegedly contravening the Health Profession Act of 1974. 'He was found to be practising as a health practitioner without proper documentation, in Havenside,' he said. Ramsarup's arrest was part of an ongoing crackdown on unregistered medical practitioners by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). HPCSA inspectorate officials uncovered unlawful medical activities at the medical centre, where Ramsarup was found practising without registration, the council said in a statement. 'He was arrested on site and faces charges of fraud and contravening sections 17, 39, and 40 of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974.' A police source said Ramsarup was arrested after an investigating officer from the HPCSA contacted them following a preliminary investigation. 'The information they received was that an unregistered doctor was practicing at the premises of the late Dr Muruvan. The bogus doctor's wife was also alleged to have worked as a nurse at the same practice. When the HPCSA officer entered the premises with the police, the man identified himself as a doctor and he claimed he was registered with the council. The official found records of a two-year-old child who had been treated by the bogus doctor earlier that day,' the source said. Rajesh Balram, chairperson of the Havenside Community Policing Forum, said the man had practiced at the Havenside surgery since 2022 and hundreds of unsuspecting people had been treated by him over the years. Rocky Naidoo, chairperson of the Havenside Civic Association, said it was of concern that a bogus doctor had been operating undetected for so many years. 'The so-called doctor was practicing at the surgery of a respected general practitioner who is now deceased. Therefore his misconduct went unnoticed. It begs the question of poor compliance on the part of the health department. The said bogus person was treating people undetected. In fact, at the time of arrest, he had just treated a small child. "We urge our communities to be vigilant and always verify doctors who are treating them. The man was issuing medical certificates and the group of doctors whose practice numbers were used by this man needs to be investigated,' he said. A community leader from Bayview, who did not want to be named, said he had consulted with the bogus doctor soon after he had taken over Dr Muruvan's practice. 'I was not aware that he was not a registered doctor, especially since he was practising out of the rooms of a previous doctor who the community trusted. 'When I was sick recently, I went to him and he gave me an injection and medication. I visited him often and started to establish a positive relationship with him. He was very caring towards patients. 'But I feel like I was let down and I put my health at risk, because I do not know if whatever he was telling me or prescribing to me was right. I'm still a bit confused after hearing news that he was a bogus doctor. Honestly, I was feeling better after my visit to his surgery,' the community leader said. Ishwar Naidoo, a resident of Havenside, who visited the doctor on three occasions last year, said the doctor was 'polite, intelligent, and clued up with health issues'. He said the doctor told him that he had worked as a medical practitioner in the South African Army. 'The doctor seemed to have vast knowledge in the medical field and he treated us well. He was caring and always offered us advice. I was shocked to hear that he was not registered. He was helpful to the community and offered discounted rates to pensioners and those who could not afford the normal rates. 'This baffles me, but I guess if someone wants to dupe you into believing that they are legitimate, and gain support, they would go the extra mile to keep their clients,' he said. The HPCSA appeals to the public to verify the credentials of healthcare practitioners by using the 'Search the Register' function on report suspected illegal practices email: InspectorateOffice@ THE POST
