After more than five years of dispute, one of the largest specialty medication pharmacists in Quebec has finally been canceled by his professional order in recent weeks.
Michael Assaraf was at the head of the small empire of the pharmacy with more than 15,000 patients for among the most expensive drugs in Quebec. On July 21, the Court of Appeal refused to hear its request for a dispute of a judgment rendered a few days earlier.
So he had to resolve to sell his pharmacy. The name of Michael Assaraf was removed from the facade of his pharmacy, rue Barr, in Montreal, and was replaced by that of Lynn Steinberg Weinberg, to whom he sold his shares.
Éric Yvan Lemay JDEM
However, during the passage of Journal On Wednesday, the name of the Assaraf pharmacy was still visible at the rear, on the delivery door. Employees were busy moving filled binders in plastic.
Éric Yvan Lemay JDEM
Saga
The decision of the Court of Appeal put an end to a series of appeals to justice, undertaken by the pharmacist to contest the radiation of one year which was imposed on him in February 2020. At the time, he had pleaded guilty to eight infringements, in particular to have illegally appropriated customers through a partnership with the multinational McKesson.
Michael Assaraf
Screenshot
He was criticized for having put the safety of patients in danger by allowing doses of Lucentis and Eylea, two expensive drugs for the treatment of macular degeneration, be kept outside his pharmacy in Saint-Laurent.
He provided refrigerators to some 35 ophthalmologists who injections to patients. However, he could not ensure the cold chain at all times, especially since fifty incidents have been reported on the refrigerators. He was also criticized for having agreed to regain doses instead of destroying them.
Abusive?
During hearings before the Superior Court last May, Mr. Assaraf’s lawyer had tried to demonstrate that the radiation was abusive.
“It’s unfair to take out the atomic bomb against Mr. Assaraf,” said Mr.e Claude Marseille.
Me Claude Marseille (on the left in the photo) and the team of lawyers who represented Michael Assaraf (in the center with the glasses) during the audiences in front of the Superior Court in June.
Photo Éric Yvan Lemay
The latter asked that the cancellation be replaced by fines and indicated that Michael Assaraf had ended the instructions in the ophthalmology clinics in 2019.
Under cancellation, Michael Assaraf can no longer practice pharmacy for 12 months. According to the Quebec Business Register, it remains the main shareholder of Sanavie, which is also domiciled on rue Barr. It was his spouse who replaced her as president at the end of last July.
In addition to the cancellation of the order, Michael Assaraf is also referred to by a request for authorization to appeal collective filed by the Quebec Quebec Association of Pharmacists of Quebec (AQPP). He is also part of the group of eight pharmacists targeted by a complaint from the insurer Beneva in front of the Canada Competition Office.
- Michael Assaraf also left his position as treasurer within the group of specialty medication pharmacies in Quebec.
A long saga
December 2019
Michael Assaraf pleads guilty to eight infraction leaders before the disciplinary council of the order of pharmacists
February 2020
The pharmacist is sentenced to fines and a one -year radiation
Mars 2020
Appeal of the sanction before the professions court
Mars 2022
The professions court rejects the appeal
Avril 2023
Filing of an appeal in judicial supervision before the Superior Court
July 2025
The appeal is rejected by the court. The cancellation becomes effective.