The Robert Ray Courtney Case

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In August of 2001 Robert Ray Courtney was arrested in Kansas City, Missouri and charged with diluting drugs used to treat cancer patients. Courtney’s actions not only violated criminal and civil laws but they shattered the ethical code and the oath he took as a licensed pharmacist. His actions left many people wondering why anyone would commit such a horrible act, let alone a trusted pharmacist who was providing medication to patients whose very lives depended on him doing his job. Detailed Account and Key Facts of the Robert Ray Courtney Case Case background. In 1992 then pharmacist Robert Ray Courtney started diluting medications that were given to patients by injection or infusion. In 1998 a sales representative from one of the drug companies, Darryl Ashley, noted a discrepancy in the amount of drugs Courtney ordered and dispensed. Eli Lilly was notified and investigated how Courtney was supplied the drugs. Finding that he did not go outside their supply chain, Eli Lilly did not pursue the issue any further. However in 2001 Ashley mentioned this in the office of Dr. Verda Hunter who sent samples of the drug in question to a laboratory for testing (Draper, 2003). In July of 2001 a federal investigation begins and on August 15, 2001 Courtney surrenders to the FBI. Biographical description of the defendant and his company. Robert Ray Courtney was born in Hays, Kansas in 1952. The only son of an ordained minister, the “families of traveling ministers typically were close but poor” (Montgomery, 2001). Words used to describe Robert Ray Courtney from numerous individuals that knew him were geek, quiet, reliable, stoic and successful. Courtney has been married three times and has four biological children and one ... ... middle of paper ... ... Retrieved May 24, 2011, from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/08/magazine/the-toxic-pharmacist.html?pagewanted=8&src=pm. Freed, J. (2001). Wealthy Kansas City Pharmacist dilutes Cancer patients IV Chemo drugs! AllNurses.com website. Retrieved May 18, 2011, from http://allnurses.com/nursing-activism-healthcare/wealthy-kansas-city-9205.html. Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program. (2003). Annual Report For FY 2002. Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from http://oig.hhs.gov/publications/docs/hcfac/HCFAC%20Annual%20Report%20FY%202002.htm. Montgomery, R. (2001). Robert R. Courtney: From quiet kid to wealthy pharmacist to indicted defendant. Access My Library website. Retrieved May 21, 2011, from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-120877309/robert-r-courtney-quiet.html.

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