Reference no: EM133234618
Real-Life Experiences
The Kansas City Pharmacist
In August 2001, Robert Courtney, a Kansas City pharmacist was indicted on 20 felony counts of product tampering, drug adulteration, and drug misbranding. Courtney illegally diluted Gemzar and other expensive chemotherapy drugs to make money.
What was more alarming was the fact that he had hundreds of cancer patients most of them relying on chemotherapy treatments for survival. According to the FBI, at least one patient who received the diluted drugs died.
Courtney was caught when a representative of Eli Lilly and Co., the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Gemzar, became suspicious from records that indicated that a Kansas City doctor was receiving much more Gemzar from Courtney's pharmacy than the actual amount of Gemzar the pharmacy was purchasing from the manufacturer.
After the doctor was notified and the drug was tested, US federal agents were then informed.
It was found that Courtney was selling up to three times the amount of drugs he was purchasing from the drug manufacturer ?[1].
Discussion Questions
- What crime did Robert Courtney commit?
- Was it proper to arrest Robert Courtney? Why or why not?
- Do you think Robert Courtney was responsible for the assumed death?