MPJE Section 1 Q's 11-15 and 21-26 focused

A pharmacist is found to have violated the Texas Pharmacy Act by accidentally dispensing the wrong medication, but there was no harm to the patient and the pharmacist has no prior disciplinary history. Based on the factors influencing penalties, which sanction is most likely to be imposed, and why?

• Revocation, because any violation results in permanent loss of license.

• Reprimand, because the violation was accidental, caused no harm, and there is no prior history.

• Suspension, because all violations require temporary removal of the license.

• Remedial education, because all violations require mandatory training.

A licensee has repeatedly violated pharmacy regulations, causing harm to patients and showing little cooperation during the investigation. Using strategic reasoning, which penalty is most appropriate and why?

• Probation, because it allows continued practice under supervision.

• Remedial education, because it addresses deficiencies through training.

• Revocation, because repeated violations, harm to patients, and lack of cooperation warrant permanent loss of licensure.

• Reprimand, because it is a formal warning for all violations.

A licensee disagrees with a disciplinary action taken by the Board. Outline the strategic steps they should take to appeal the decision, and explain how due process is ensured throughout this procedure.

• Request a rehearing, file an appeal in district court, seek judicial review, and await final judgment; due process is ensured by allowing multiple levels of review and legal protection.

• Ignore the decision and continue practicing; due process is not relevant.

• Only file a complaint with the police; due process is ensured by law enforcement.

• Immediately file for final judgment without any prior steps; due process is not required.

Evaluate how mitigating and aggravating circumstances can influence the penalties imposed by the Board for professional violations. Provide examples of each and explain their impact on the final decision.

• Mitigating circumstances (e.g., cooperation, self-reporting) may reduce penalties, while aggravating circumstances (e.g., repeated violations, fraud) may increase penalties, affecting the Board’s final decision.

• Only aggravating circumstances are considered; mitigating circumstances are ignored.

• Mitigating circumstances always result in no penalty, regardless of the violation.

• Neither mitigating nor aggravating circumstances are considered in Board decisions.

A licensee disagrees with a Board’s disciplinary decision and wants to challenge it. Explain the strategic steps they must take to appeal the decision, and analyze why each step is important in ensuring due process.

• Request a rehearing, file an appeal in a Texas district court, and seek judicial review; each step allows the licensee to present their case, ensures legal oversight, and protects their rights.

• Request a rehearing, file an appeal in a federal court, and seek a new trial; each step ensures the licensee gets a new hearing and bypasses state procedures.

• File a complaint with the Board, request a new trial, and appeal to the governor; each step allows for administrative and executive review.

• Request a rehearing, file an appeal in a Texas district court, and demand a jury trial; each step ensures the licensee gets a public hearing.

A student is planning to become a registered pharmacy technician in Texas. They have just turned 18, have a high school diploma, and have passed the PTCB exam. What additional steps must they take to complete their registration, and why are these steps important for the profession?

• Submit fingerprints for a criminal background check, pay the registration fee, and register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP); these steps ensure public safety and regulatory compliance.

• Only pay the registration fee; this is the only legal requirement.

• Submit fingerprints and wait for approval, but registration with TSBP is optional.

• Register with the TSBP and skip the background check if they have a diploma.

A candidate for pharmacy technician registration in Texas has a felony conviction related to drug offenses but meets all other eligibility requirements. Using reasoning based on the registration guidelines, explain whether this candidate is likely to be approved and why.

• No, because felony convictions, especially drug- or pharmacy-related offenses, are disqualifying factors for registration.

• Yes, as long as they have completed all other requirements.

• Yes, if they pay an additional fee.

• No, unless they have a letter of recommendation from a pharmacist.

A pharmacy technician in Texas is required to renew their registration every two years and complete continuing education (CE) requirements. Analyze why these requirements are important for maintaining professional standards in pharmacy practice.

• To ensure pharmacy technicians stay updated with current practices and maintain competency.

• To increase the number of pharmacy technicians in Texas.

• To reduce the workload of supervising pharmacists.

• To allow pharmacy technicians to make clinical decisions independently.

Given the list of allowed and prohibited tasks for pharmacy technicians, evaluate a scenario where a technician is asked to review a patient's drug regimen. What should the technician do, and why?

• Refuse the task, as drug regimen reviews are prohibited for technicians.

• Accept the task, as it is part of their allowed responsibilities.

• Perform the review but consult the pharmacist only if unsure.

• Delegate the task to another technician.

A pharmacy technician is preparing and labeling prescriptions, entering prescription data, and managing inventory. The supervising pharmacist is ultimately responsible for all actions performed by the technician. Discuss the implications of this responsibility for both the technician and the pharmacist.

• The pharmacist must ensure proper supervision and training, while the technician must follow protocols and report issues.

• The technician is solely responsible for any errors made.

• The pharmacist does not need to supervise the technician closely.

• The technician can make clinical decisions independently.