California Revokes Burbank Pharmacy’s License for Selling Drugs to Patients Who Died

A pharmacy in Burbank that dispensed painkillers and other narcotics to five young patients who died of overdose has had its license revoked.  The state pharmacy board found that the pharmacy employees had failed to properly investigate prescriptions that contributed to the people’s deaths.

The pharmacy, Jay Scott Drugs catered to patients of Dr. Bernard Bass and Dr. Massoud Bamdad, both of who were later convicted of crimes in connection with their prescribing habits.

By law, pharmacists are required to examine prescriptions, scrutinize customers and refuse to fill any prescriptions, if they suspect a person does not have a legitimate medical need for the drug.

Many of Dr. Bass’s patients were in their 20’s and traveled more than 40 miles from their homes in Ventura County to visit the doctor in North Hollywood and then would go another five miles to Jay Scott Drugs where they usually paid cash for a combination of medications favored by drug addicts.  Though Dr. Bamdad was a general practitioner, more than half of all the prescriptions his patients filled were for painkillers or other common drugs of abuse, according to the California Boardof Pharmacy.

The board faulted lead pharmacist Albert Daher and two of his colleagues with unquestioningly filling prescriptions, in spite of many red flags which should have raised suspicion.  The board’s decision noted the pharmacy received large financial profits from the filling of Bass’ prescriptions.

During an interview in his store, Albert Daher said he felt he had been unfairly targeted by the Pharmacy Board and resented the notion he was in it for profit and cared nothing for his patients. Four of Bass’ patients between the ages of 21 and 31 years old died of overdose within the span of a month in 2008, after receiving prescriptions filled from Jay Scott Drugs.  A fifth patient overdosed at the age of 23, after filling a prescription from Bamdad, according to information in board documents.

The board found the pharmacy at fault for feeding the addictions of four other patients who later died with the same kinds of drugs that were filled at Jay Scott Drugs.  Even if there was not sufficient evidence to prove the lethal pills were the same ones obtained at Jay Scott Drugs, the board’s decision stated the pharmacy had been routinely filling prescriptions and feeding people’s drug addiction.

The Pharmacy Board took it a step further and rejected a proposed decision of a judge, who presided over the 16-day hearing.  The judge found Bass, not Bamdad, had an obvious prescribing pattern and patient’s profiles which should have drawn the attention of Daher and other colleagues.