A PHARMACIST facing charges of sexual assaulting a patient will be allowed to practice after an NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal overturned a suspension handed down by the Pharmacy Council of NSW in Aug.
The Tribunal set aside Hany Samir Ibrahim's suspension on the condition that he is confined to the dispensary, not permitted to interact with customers, be employed as a pharmacist-in-charge or work alone in a pharmacy.
Any employer who hires him while the conditions apply will be required to provide written acknowledgement that they are aware of the conditions imposed on Ibrahim's registration, while they will also have to display a sign in the pharmacy stating the "pharmacist in the dispensary is not to advise or consult with customers/patients - please see the pharmacist in charge".
Ibrahim has been accused of assaulting a 19-year-old female, who had come into the pharmacy seeking emergency contraception on 01 Jul.
The incident is alleged to have taken place in a consultation room in the store, after which the woman called the police and Ibrahim was arrested.
Ibrahim denies the allegations, and affidavits from four colleagues all attested that the allegations made against him were "completely out of character", and they were all confident he could continue to be employed at the pharmacy in a restricted role which did not involve private consultations.
In making its decision to partially overturn the suspension the Tribunal noted Ibrahim had not previously come to the attention of the Council and the had been no suggestion that he lacked competency in his practice.
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