Article – BC health regulators suspended a Vancouver Island pharmacy technician last week after an investigation confirmed a pattern of sexual misconduct toward female colleagues. The College of Pharmacists of British Columbia issued a three-month suspension against Darren McIntyre, who worked at two Victoria-area pharmacies between 2020 and 2023.
According to the disciplinary decision published November 25, McIntyre engaged in “unwanted touching and inappropriate comments” that created a hostile work environment. Five former coworkers provided statements describing incidents where McIntyre made sexual remarks about their appearance and initiated unwelcome physical contact.
“I examined the full 32-page disciplinary report,” explained workplace harassment attorney Sarah Bennett. “This case shows how power dynamics in professional settings can enable problematic behavior to continue unchecked.”
The investigation began after a pharmacy manager reported concerns in February 2023. College investigators interviewed twelve current and former employees before reaching their determination that McIntyre had violated professional conduct standards.
One complainant described McIntyre commenting on her body when she bent to retrieve medication from lower shelves. Another reported he frequently touched her shoulders and back despite repeated requests to stop. Text messages submitted to investigators showed McIntyre continuing to contact one coworker with personal messages after she had explicitly asked him to maintain professional boundaries.
“Workplace sexual misconduct often follows identifiable patterns,” noted Dr. Elena Rodriguez, who researches professional misconduct in healthcare settings at UBC. “Perpetrators typically test boundaries incrementally, making it difficult for victims to pinpoint exactly when professional interaction crosses into inappropriate territory.”
In addition to the suspension, McIntyre must complete a professional ethics course and submit to workplace monitoring for one year following his return to practice. The college also ordered him to pay $12,500 toward investigation costs.
McIntyre initially denied the allegations but ultimately admitted to the misconduct during disciplinary proceedings. His lawyer declined requests for comment when contacted Tuesday.
Pharmacy workplace safety advocate Melissa Chen expressed concern about the penalty’s leniency. “Three months seems insufficient given the documented pattern involving multiple victims. Many healthcare regulatory bodies still struggle to implement consequences proportionate to sexual misconduct violations.”
The college’s disciplinary panel noted this was McIntyre’s first formal complaint in eight years of practice. However, victim statements suggested the behavior had occurred throughout his employment at both pharmacies.
Statistics from the BC Health Regulators show complaints of workplace misconduct have increased 24% across all healthcare professions since 2021. The uptick likely reflects improved reporting mechanisms rather than an increase in incidents, according to the regulators’ joint statement released last month.
“Healthcare settings present unique vulnerabilities,” explained former regulatory investigator James Wilson. “Professionals work in close proximity under stressful conditions, often in spaces with limited privacy or oversight.”
McIntyre cannot apply for registration reinstatement until completing all required remedial actions. His suspension took effect November 22, and his pharmacy technician license will remain inactive until at least late February.
The college has directed both pharmacies where McIntyre worked to implement additional workplace harassment training. Neither establishment faces regulatory action as both cooperated fully with investigators and had appropriate reporting mechanisms in place.
Victims of workplace misconduct in healthcare settings can file complaints through their profession’s regulatory college or the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Most colleges now offer anonymous reporting options to address concerns about potential career repercussions for whistleblowers.
