[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6635403,"mediaKeyId","2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d","parentId",2638397,"title","Technician Jamal Watts seeks reinstatement after positive drug test, cites sobriety and rehab","audioSeconds",44,"startMs",7958000,"endMs",8002000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d&start=7958&end=8002","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d/thumbnail_7958000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6635403/California/Technician-Jamal-Watts-seeks-reinstatement-after-positive-drug-test-cites-sobriety-and-rehab","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635403-8df75f791681830a3648db172a2497c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000382&Signature=ctaR9Wo8OLIbR79Iv~vaNX-h5jKuNfSX3fQCxHaQOtWoHYVKJMErAWepb4mvOdBRYtQARoRRzXN6Y6NpRPxJocfzVULmQySuLTb57UXC1eeiz5~vttUaaUvXKtnt1sNZKigzo0k6PJzsdJxHL-yb-MicocIZcukUDT2YjWI~CGjN94mE-jTJDbOe4Cu-CFI0pFgXzzQjC3ZgojHn47beF6F5UlI3iLE0YjqDL1yeQiYYiOhy4EwbwryL11hATNMY36SeaOAjJW06MdyW5sfsicvbtGN69FoZ05iW3wf6bO~1ZEwwzz7E3PWaVLUf3LaruS04BkqJ6rnFGBC~-tyMqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Respiratory Care Board of California","date","2025-03-14T18:19:28.457Z","article","A pharmacy technician whose license was revoked by default in 2021 after a positive drug test told a Board of Pharmacy committee on March 12 that he has been sober since June 15, 2021, completed inpatient treatment and outpatient aftercare, and now lives in a sober-living residence and attends meetings, asking the board to reinstate his credential.

Jamal Darrell Watts said at the hearing that his pre-employment drug screen in October 2020 was positive for cocaine, that he subsequently entered treatment and that he has maintained sobriety since mid‑June 2021. He described an inpatient program at Tarzana Treatment Center in late 2021, an outpatient aftercare program through Kaiser Permanente into early 2023, and participation in Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings, with a sponsor and weekly contact.

Watts also described living in a sober-living home where drug screens are conducted and said he has continued to work in health‑care related roles (remote patient-registration and prior-authorization positions) while seeking to return to pharmacy practice. He told the committee he would accept terms of probation, including random drug testing paid for by him, if the board reinstates his license.

Deputy Attorney General Nicole Trauma noted evidentiary concerns in the petition packet: a declaration (Exhibit 2) from a pharmacist, Trang Anh Tran, says she did not write or authorize a recommendation letter that Watts submitted. Trauma told the committee that one of the packet’s four letters of recommendation could not be verified by board staff and flagged the omission as important when the statute governing technician reinstatement requires reliable references.

Board members questioned Watts about his mental-health care, medications and the events surrounding his revocation by default. Watts acknowledged a diagnosis that has included depressive symptoms and that he takes prescribed medications including haloperidol and medication for Crohn’s disease; he said those conditions are treated and under the care of clinicians. He told the committee he did not respond in time to the accusation leading to default revocation because of life stress and financial pressures.

The record was closed after testimony and argument and the committee submitted the matter for deliberation. The committee did not vote at the meeting; a written decision will be issued later.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","California State Board Of Pharmacy Disciplinary Petition Meeting March 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A pharmacy technician whose license was revoked by default in 2021 after a positive drug test told a Board of Pharmacy committee on March 12 that he has been sober since June 15, 2021, completed inpatient treatment and outpatient aftercare, and now lives in a sober-living residence and attends meetings.","taxTitle","Respiratory Care Board of California, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California","taxId",76751,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635408,"Former pharmacist Anita McQuigg seeks reinstatement after revocation; board probes rehabilitation and huge cost order",7954,7227000,15181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d&start=7227&end=15181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d/thumbnail_7227000.jpg","/articles/6635408/California/Former-pharmacist-Anita-McQuigg-seeks-reinstatement-after-revocation-board-probes-rehabilitation-and-huge-cost-order","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635408-a54cbab32d55b9583c88a39afd7071ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000382&Signature=OAW-K-Vzc6Km8p6k7k6ndfJ6ukC8szhjIFbe8h771pBefyrk8e1-QsworuucBcZBWBYbYDVBPJmZPaaYIzwe7938CT-VqEcrZsG46ssm-Hc-Qff1FcoSfFq6ORZuB4Q9iEIFzpTx~KCzS~dKhZtIYr9mc-mfzFHNJicb5P0FQRq9GdmyUP5InjjpKYTlHrdDqGpUEHo3J0ep5cQ9UvekTODzj7w5BWJH8s-ieFvNsnvtavXd~JaC9G-FIPcPWNZcOL-FeiGG1Xtj8xjeZNiP97en1FJB1WUO9wt9doZqEeiIji~EoTdnxCfx0lDgacv16aaj8wnaMTnFVoi~cwkGwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An attorney and a pharmacist with more than 30 years of prior service asked a Board of Pharmacy committee on March 12 to reinstate a pharmacist license that was revoked in 2021 after a board finding of falsified records and attempts to subvert an investigation.

Anita Barrisol McQuigg, who testified under oath, told the committee she regrets the actions that led to the disciplinary case and described the personal and financial consequences since the board’s order. The underlying administrative decision sustained allegations that McQuigg provided false documentation to a board inspector after the pharmacist discovered a large shortage of promethazine with codeine during a 2019 inspection and then directed staff to create records to account for the discrepancy.

The administrative law judge who presided over the original matter found the respondent’s testimony to be \"pervasively false and misleading,\" recommended revocation, and the board adopted that recommendation. The board’s decision imposed a cost order totaling $2,125,872.25; McQuigg has paid $200 toward that amount and asked the board to reduce or waive the remainder citing financial hardship.

At the March 12 petition hearing McQuigg said she had taken continuing education, completed ethics training, engaged in counseling after a divorce, and volunteered in community programs. Her counsel, Allen Knight of the Cory Law Firm, argued she has shown remorse and steps toward rehabilitation and said procedural issues during the original disciplinary proceedings warranted consideration of mitigation. Knight also said the client had been represented by counsel that had a conflict with another client (the pharmacy owner) in the underlying matter; he suggested that representation issues affected her defense at the prior hearing and urged the committee to consider that in mitigation.

Deputy Attorney General Nicole Trauma told the committee she had \"serious concerns\" about reinstatement. Trauma argued McQuigg’s petition packet did not contain independent psychological evaluation findings and said McQuigg’s testimony at the prior hearing and the ALJ’s findings weigh heavily against reinstatement. Trauma said the packet did not sufficiently demonstrate that McQuigg currently met the board’s burden to show she is an honest and reliable practitioner.

Committee members questioned McQuigg about why the falsified prescriptions were created, whether she relied on a technician’s memory, why she entered the records herself, and whether she engaged in follow-up with the board after the event. McQuigg acknowledged responsibility for creating the six prescriptions the ALJ described, said she was trying to account for missing medication, and apologized to the board during questioning.

The record was closed and the matter submitted for deliberation. The committee did not vote at the meeting; a written decision will follow.

Provenance: The petition was heard on the record starting with roll call and the admittance of exhibit 1 (petition packet). The transcript includes the hearing opening and McQuigg's testimony and closing statements.","Anita McQuigg, whose pharmacist license was revoked in 2021 after an ALJ and the board sustained findings of falsified records and subverting an investigation, petitioned March 12 for reinstatement. The hearing centered on rehabilitation, letters of support, and inability to pay a $2.1 million cost order.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635413,"Pharmacist Fadi Abied urges early end to probation after compliance work and training",371,351000,722000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d&start=351&end=722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d/thumbnail_351000.jpg","/articles/6635413/California/Pharmacist-Fadi-Abied-urges-early-end-to-probation-after-compliance-work-and-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635413-3aed7c85a10a4cb7bd9724600d086b2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000382&Signature=m3MtQKLtuzFK~ywXC9x7fGSKmLwc8nPSYM3lGuIUsSK6223u1CP376WpZNUJ8Ezn1dD2pzutkH7xk4358G8wsna8lCF00Ya8fvjD4gaoCUpd6V6LCUWOGcW2zSyCm6FIV1YsaXvP5usUhj5s0Fvhxw5EUbVU2exOFjl4bnfX3Xa1mko0ye5~-Rpg-6rJoX3FDTVtH49-IaaZKI9QQQHfn0l~XmhZKZMo480qAlBxGVaGYWm5qDqwWsNPjWSW2kgpaHoYh4NM4ftYReqYMJW~wl9oZ3MIDPL1tzGPiydzEzv2cpdaswLdMEeGAPaDdQUyrV-tyZv3CrvisSjLxqabPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A pharmacist who was placed on probation after a disciplinary order told a Board of Pharmacy committee he has completed remedial training, paid fines and worked with a consultant to strengthen compliance at his pharmacy in support of a petition for early termination of probation.

Fadi Abied spoke for roughly an hour at the committee’s March 12 disciplinary petition hearing, answering questions from the administrative law judge, the deputy attorney general and committee members. He told the panel he has been compliant with quarterly reporting and monitoring requirements, finished remedial education and ethics coursework, and submitted seven letters of recommendation and continuing-education certificates with his petition packet.

Abied said the events that led to the disciplinary action stemmed from lapses in oversight when he was the pharmacist in charge at River’s Edge Pharmacy, including problems with limited-distribution specialty drugs and acceptance of returned medications. \"I should have known better,\" he told the committee, describing a lack of experience in that management role and taking responsibility for the failures the board found.

He described steps he and his employer have taken since, including working with consultant pharmacist Dr. Raffi Simonian to rewrite policies and implement auditing, additional staff training, and purchasing an IV workflow tracking system for sterile compounding compliance. Simonian testified he has performed recurring visits to River’s Edge and helped design new policies; he told the committee he found Abied \"fully engaged\" and placed the pharmacist in the top tier of rehabilitation among comparable cases he has reviewed.

Deputy Attorney General Nicole Trauma said the state’s presentation included the petition packet and supporting exhibits; the petition packet was admitted into evidence at the hearing. Abied’s counsel, Ivan Petrzelka, asked the committee to grant the petition, arguing Abied had shown rehabilitation by clear and convincing evidence and that continuing probation would provide no public-safety benefit.

Committee members asked about the underlying problems at the pharmacy, Abied’s decision to step down from the pharmacist-in-charge role, and whether safeguards are now in place. Abied said he stepped down to work under a more experienced pharmacist and now serves as a clinical pharmacist and special projects manager focused on ongoing training and auditing. He told the committee he plans additional board specialty certifications and said he would consider resuming a pharmacist-in-charge role only after further professional development.

The hearing record was closed at the end of testimony and argument; the committee did not issue a decision at the meeting. The matter was submitted for deliberation and a written decision will be issued later.

Provenance: The hearing transcript shows the petition was introduced and the record opened at the committee hearing (transcript excerpt: \"The next petitioner is Fadi Ates Nasrar Abid\") and the formal on-the-record hearing: \"We are on the record before a committee of the Board of Pharmacy to review the petition for early termination of probation by Fadi Atif Nasar Abid. OEH number 202502965.\"","At a March 12 Board of Pharmacy disciplinary hearing, pharmacist Fadi Abied testified in support of a petition for early termination of a three-year probation imposed in August 2022, saying he has completed remedial coursework, paid required fines and taken steps to strengthen pharmacy operations where he works.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635398,"Pharmacist Nirali Shah asks Board to end probation early after compliance work at CVS",8122,165000,8287000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d&start=165&end=8287","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2638397-ccc294155820305489c809bf3376280d/thumbnail_165000.jpg","/articles/6635398/California/Pharmacist-Nirali-Shah-asks-Board-to-end-probation-early-after-compliance-work-at-CVS","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635398-ea65fbd0d95d21f671c827832a15dd9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000382&Signature=kgHIWeahk0yQJQyiA~VejLx2C~CMFxmNsCSbxJ3MnXIuIEncwHzlL8Xie6wqv2C3KR75vtiWwOgs7eiBFUOaQ5a55O2HSDoKzWozYIXDGKCX8quJlnFgp60gIHYbf8MMM0zVsr-M1x8ILfRwx4fkeuTF07Hp9VXUfwSd-aAHhAgWtGVWBMXe1C-JCbmR9-NZOYsOuSmH6bEJnn69creQbO6NwIl5oSeHCfMmeRq9bNOgQXlqnBOfGqbAHlchL9iSDQvEYptQ0r~ficm9qaWq2BRjeRSbzaR7AVd50GuTH~fB5Gz~UPvis4cJxLgw0IWdhOZK8PdiJrkb18i9caRkBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A pharmacist placed on probation after board findings about return handling and controlled-substance security testified to a committee of the Board of Pharmacy March 12 that she has complied with probation terms, completed continuing education and an ethics course, and adopted compliance practices while working for a large retail chain.

Nirali Shah told the disciplinary petition committee she worked at White Cross Pharmacy from September 2016 to May 2018 and briefly served as pharmacist in charge before leaving. She acknowledged gaps in security and inventory management at the independent store — the matters that formed the basis of the disciplinary order — and said she had not fully appreciated the scope of the PIC role at the time.

Since placement on probation Shah said she has focused on continuing education, reads pharmacy trade publications, completed the board’s ethics course and has applied lessons from larger corporate compliance systems while working at CVS. She stated she now conducts thorough self-assessments at stores where she floats, identifies compliance gaps and works with managers to correct them.

Deputy Attorney General Nicole Trauma noted the petition packet and exhibits were admitted into evidence and said the state had no objection to the hearing. Committee members asked Shah about specific examples of compliance changes she has made and whether probation made her a better practitioner. Shah said the probation process, including the ethics course, helped her identify personal risk factors — such as a tendency to acquiesce to supervisors — and that she has become more assertive about reporting and correcting compliance gaps.

The committee closed the record and submitted the matter for deliberation; no committee decision was announced at the March 12 meeting.","Nirali Shah, a pharmacist on 35-month probation stemming from White Cross Pharmacy violations, told the Board of Pharmacy on March 12 she has completed ethics training, continued education, and has been compliant with probation reporting while working at CVS; the committee took testimony and submitted the petition for deliberation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Technician Jamal Watts seeks reinstatement after positive drug test, cites sobriety and rehab

Former pharmacist Anita McQuigg seeks reinstatement after revocation; board probes rehabilitation and huge cost order

Pharmacist Fadi Abied urges early end to probation after compliance work and training

Pharmacist Nirali Shah asks Board to end probation early after compliance work at CVS