Who "watches" the pharmacist?

Question

I am in nursing school and they also stress to us the importance of doc., patient rights, etc. I was wondering who makes sure the pharmacist stealing medication or like when they own there own store who watches them?

Answer 1

There are state-level boards and other organizations which help monitor the operations of pharmacies. Unfortunately, however, it can't prevent all illegal operations. The medical community remembers well the scandal several years ago of a pharmacist who owned a couple of pharmacies, who diluted very crucial cancer drugs. He made lots of money by delivering only 50% of what the patients (and the doctors) thought they were getting. Some one in the medical field blew the whistle, but in the meantime many patients died. Would their recovery or prognosis been different if they had received the full dose every one thought they were getting. We'll never know. They're dead, and the former pharmacist is in prison.

Answer 2

The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) requires that detailed records be kept by the Pharmacist.  They have ways of matching inventory against prescriptions and inventory against pharmaceutical orders.  If they suspect a problem the BNDD can actually walk into the pharmacy, unannounced, and do a physical count of each bottle of medication.

If you are sure you know that a pharmacist is stealing medications from his pharmacy, call the BNDD.