The Rural Alberta Report
June 13, 2025
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Alberta pharmacist’s registration cancelled for unprofessional conduct
Media Release: Alberta College of Pharmacy
June 11, 2025
Edmonton – A Hearing Tribunal for the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) has ordered the cancellation of Michael Tweedy’s registration as a pharmacist after finding him guilty of unprofessional conduct. Cancellation means that Tweedy is no longer able to practise as a pharmacist in Alberta.
The Tribunal found that while practising as a pharmacist in Red Deer, Tweedy had diverted drugs (including amphetamines and hypnotics) by creating false pharmacy records (including prescriptions, dispensing transaction records, and a patient profile), filled prescriptions and diverted them for personal use, and submitted false third-party insurer claims. Tweedy also failed to cooperate with the ACP investigation, resulting in an additional finding of unprofessional conduct.
The Hearing Tribunal found that Tweedy’s actions had breached his statutory and regulatory obligations to ACP, created the potential for patient harm, undermined the integrity of the profession, failed to fulfill the professional and ethical judgement expected and required of an Alberta pharmacist, and warranted the following sanctions:
- Tweedy’s registration with ACP be cancelled (Note: Tweedy last practised on May 4, 2024, and he has not held an active practice permit since May 21, 2024, when his practice permit was suspended by ACP);
- a $10,000 fine to be paid within 90 days;
- Tweedy is prohibited from serving as a pharmacy licensee, proprietor, or owner for 10 years; and
- Tweedy to pay 100 per cent of the costs of the investigation and hearing, with a total of $28,640.
Rationale for the Tribunal’s decision is reflected in its following statements from its April 25, 2025, decision on sanctions:
- Mr. Tweedy’s conduct was dishonest, deceptive, created a risk to public safety by creating false records and putting controlled drugs at risk for potential misuse. Additionally, it threatened the public’s perception of the profession’s integrity.
- A self-regulating profession must preserve the public's trust in its integrity by holding its members accountable for their actions. Mr. Tweedy’s actions severely undermine the profession’s credibility and, as such, significant consequences are necessary. The conduct in all of the allegations exceeds the range of permitted conduct for a pharmacist in Alberta. Mr. Tweedy has demonstrated a recurring pattern of unprofessional behaviour by diverting drugs for personal illicit use, falsifying records to conceal these actions, submitting false insurance claims, and failing to cooperate with the investigation. His actions show a clear disregard for both the core responsibilities of a pharmacist and the ethical standards governing the profession.
- Furthermore, Mr. Tweedy’s proven unprofessional conduct indicates signs of being ungovernable. While not every incident of unprofessional conduct renders a pharmacist ungovernable, a pharmacist who is ungovernable cannot be effectively regulated and cannot be trusted to act in the public’s best interest. Mr. Tweedy’s refusal to cooperate with the College as his regulatory body further signals his ungovernability. This supports the cancellation of his ability to practise