LAWYERS representing a Canadian pharmacist who had his registration cancelled last month have accused regulators of "an abuse of process".
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba, called time on Kris Thorkelson's career as a pharmacists after he agreed to a plea deal with US authorities charging him over series of offences related to online pharmacies he owned, broadcaster, CBC reported.
The charges laid against Thorkelson in 2014 were linked to the sale and importation of US$78 million-worth of unapproved, mislabelled and in some cases counterfeit medications to doctors in the US.
Had the pharmacist been convicted on the original charges he would have faced up to 45 years behind bars plus financial penalties, however his legal team negotiated a plea deal which resulted in a sentence of 60 months probation, with the first six months under home detention, and a fine of US$250,000.
Having reviewed the case representatives of the College rejected suggestions that Thorkelson was a "gallant hero" who "unselfishly took all responsibility" for the actions of his businesses.
"The reality is Thorkelson is not a gallant hero," representives of the College said.
"He did what he needed to do to protect himself and avoid a very lengthy prison term."
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