Pharmacist who shot robber faces Murder case

(Oklahoma) An Oklahoma Pharmacist, Jerome Ersland, is out on bail today after being arrested and charged with first-degree homicide in the May 19th shooting of “would-be robber” Antwun Parker, 16.

Prosecutors said Parker was on the floor in the pharmacy, unconscious and unarmed after being shot once by the pharmacist, and then shot him five more times. Read more

Illinois Senate approves medical marijuana bill

(AP) The Illinois Senate voted 30-28 in favor of a plan to let sick people use pot for relief from diseases like cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis.

The bill now goes to the Illinois House, where a committee passed a medical marijuana measure earlier this year. Read more

NABP Moves to Next Phase of Technician Recognition and Regulation

(PTCB Press Release) The PTCB is proud to announce a new recommendation issued by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Task Force on Standardized Pharmacy Technician Education and Training which encourages state boards of pharmacy to require certification by the PTCB. Read more

Wisconsin to force Pharmacists to dispense contraceptives

Wisconsin’s budget committee passed a measure that would force pharmacies to dispense prescribed contraceptives. The budget bill states a provision that says a pharmacy must have someone on duty who is willing to dispense the contraceptives.

What does this mean to a rural independent pharmacy that can’t afford the payroll of two pharmacists? Would there be a question in the interview process interrogating them about their religious beliefs?

Prevacid given OTC approval

Earlier this month, Novartis announced that Prevacid has been approved by the FDA as the first over-the-counter PPI for the treatment of frequent heartburn since 2003 (Prilosec OTC) and the first PPI ever to be granted OTC status without any alterations to it’s original formula.

The prescription drug was one of the top 5 prescribed brand names in the country with annual sales of $3.37 billion in 2008.

Prevacid 24HR is expected to be available over-the-counter later this year.

Ex-R.Ph. Eric Cropp found guilty death of Emily Jerry

Eric Cropp, a former Cleavland Pharmacist, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter Wednesday in the death of a 2-year-old Emily Jerry. Jerry died from a lethal injection of a salt solution during a cancer treatment. The lethal injection was the result of a medication error when a pharmacy technician prepared the medication. Cropp failed to catch the error. Read more

PTCB: 6,800 pharmacy technicians applied for testing

(PTCB, PRWeb): – The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board announced today that since on-demand testing with immediate pass/fail results was launched on April 1, 2009, 6,800 pharmacy technicians have applied to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. The new testing format represents an effort by PTCB to offer greater flexibility and convenience in the availability of the PTCE, the highest quality test available for pharmacy technician certification. Read more