HONOLULU— The decision of some Big Island pharmacists to stop filling a doctor’s prescriptions after his arrest made its way to the state pharmacy board in Honolulu on Thursday.
During their Thursday meeting, the board discussed a West Hawaii Today article published June 5 that explored the blowback Dr. Clif Arrington has experienced after his on March 17 arrest, where the doctor was later released and is yet to be charged.
Even without charges, some pharmacies reportedly stopped filling his prescriptions, although Arrington’s patients are now being accepted again at the pharmacies that had denied them, according to Deborah Hilton, the office manager for the Honalo Business Plaza clinic.
“I think it’s an important thing to discuss,” said Lee Ann Teshima, executive officer of the Hawaii State Board of Pharmacy, which oversees all pharmacists and pharmacies in the state.
The unusual situation could happen to others, and it’s important to know what to do should it arise.
But Thursday’s meeting was short on specifics, with the board deciding to invite an officer from the Narcotics Enforcement Department to attend its next meeting to answer questions about what pharmacists should do in such instances.
“We want some specific questions we can ask the officer,” Teshima said.
She asked that people send questions to the board at pharmacy@dcca.hawaii.gov.
One issue did come up from a wholesaler representative. A sudden change in demand for controlled substances will lead to contact from the company. That is because they are legally obligated to check in on sudden changes.
Teshima said they are hoping to explore what pharmacists should do in similar situations. There is a concern for the patients, she said, but pharmacists also have a legal responsibility with prescriptions. Other board members Thursday directed any questions to Teshima, who said they’ll have more answers at the next meeting.
Meanwhile, Arrington’s patients are being accepted at the local pharmacies that had once denied them, they are still refusing to fill Schedule II prescriptions, Hilton said.
Many have switched over to mail-order pharmacies, she said, which have had no issue filling them.
Arrington remains in good standing with the state and his license to issue controlled substances is unencumbered.
Toni Schwartz, Department of Public Safety public information officer, has said the investigation is ongoing. The department has been mum on any more details and didn’t comment Thursday.
The troubles began for Arrington when officers from the Narcotics Enforcement Division entered his practice and arrested him in March during normal practice hours, Hilton said, and they were ordered to clear everyone out.
“We had patients on IVs,” she said. “They pushed one of the patients in a wheelchair out in the parking lot and left him there. This is a person who can hardly move, and you leave them in a parking lot?”
She and another staff member were held for hours without access to food, water or a restroom, she said. After six hours she was able to leave, while the other staff member was there for eight hours.
“That’s when I thought, we need a lawyer,” she said.
Arrington told West Hawaii Today he was held for several hours and released, without being asked any questions.
Some pharmacists told West Hawaii Today that they were told to hold off on filling prescriptions by agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency or the NED. Both agencies said they did not make any such direction to pharmacists.
Arrington reported he’s worked to direct his patients to mail-order pharmacies, which has required unfamiliar paperwork. However, many have transferred successfully.
The board is scheduled to meet again July 21, where questions around the situation will be addressed.
“We will then explore them at the next meeting,” Teshima said.