A pharmacist who threatened to burn his partner's home down before dousing him in acetone has been suspended for four months.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his partner, cannot apply to register as a pharmacist until September, following a decision by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The Pharmacy Board alleged the man, then a registered pharmacist, engaged in professional misconduct when he was convicted and found guilt of common law assault on his partner in 2021.
The tribunal heard in February 2020, the pharmacist made threats to burn down his partner's apartment and doused him with acetone while telling him the liquid was the most flammable kind.
The partner locked himself in the bathroom fearing he would be burned alive.
In another incident, over issues relating to non-monogamy, the man is accused of picking up a knife during an argument with his partner.
The pair has now reunited and are living together.
In his own submission to the tribunal, the pharmacist reported that he regularly abused prescription medication, along with the use of illicit substances.
The pharmacist reflected, "in the end, drugs have f***ed my career".
The assault incidents occurred when he was already suspended by the board over previous misconduct.
The man has not worked as a pharmacist for almost seven years.
In 2021, VCAT cancelled his registration and disqualified him from reapplying until December 2022.
With this case pending, the man did not reapply for re-registration as a pharmacist.
In its submission, the Pharmacy Board argued that despite the man not working as a pharmacist it was important a period of suspension was handed down.
"It is imperative that the Tribunal makes clear to practitioners that conduct of this nature undermines the reputation of the profession and people's trust in it," the Board wrote.
"Pharmacists are expected to act with integrity and diligence."
It is unclear if the man plans to apply for registration as a pharmacist once the suspension is over.
