Kelowna pharmacist suspended for unprofessional horseplay of a sexual nature

A Kelowna pharmacist who engaged in “unprofessional horseplay”, and once kissed a co-worker on top of her head, has been suspended for two months.

According to a Nov. 20 College of Pharmacists of BC decision, Tri Khai Vien made numerous sexually suggestive comments to female co-workers and referred to female colleagues by pet names.

The decision doesn’t say where Vien worked, but it states that in December 2023, he was spoken to about respecting personal space and boundaries and, at one point, given a 10-day suspension.

However, the pharmacist continued with his conduct and in September 2024, touched the shoulders of a co-worker and kissed her on the head.

“(He) engaged in ‘unprofessional horseplay,’ often of a sexually suggestive nature, with female co-workers,” the regulator says in the decision.

The decision says Vien gave his personal cell phone to a female co-worker, made inappropriate remarks and comments of a sexual nature when female co-workers were around, and breached their personal space.

“He engaged in behaviours, including physical contact, and made sexual remarks that his employer categorized as sexual harassment,” the decision says. “He continued to make inappropriate comments and referred to female co-workers by pet names, despite receiving a ten-day suspension from his employer.”

The regulator says his conduct was unethical.

Vien signed a consent agreement admitting to his behaviour. 

The regulator suspended his licence for 60 days and ordered Vien take an ethics course for health-care professionals.

“The (regulator) determined that (he) engaged in behaviours that could undermine patients’ trust in registrants and society’s trust in the pharmacy profession… (and) categorized (Vien’s) conduct as professional misconduct of a sexual nature, and by extension, sexual misconduct and unethical,” the regulator says in the decision.