Pharmacist Faces Disciplinary Action After Creating Fake Social Media Profile

Northern Ireland Pharmacist Receives Warning for Creating Fake Social Media Profile

A pharmacist in Northern Ireland has been formally warned by his professional regulator after creating a fraudulent social media profile using photographs of another person without consent.

Matthew Nethery appeared before the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) fitness to practise committee on February 26, following a police caution he received on October 21, 2023. The committee heard that Nethery had created social media posts containing false and inaccurate information about the victim, leaving them visible online for up to three days.

According to the PSNI’s official report, the fake profile “highlighted false and inaccurate facts associated with this individual,” causing “undue anxiety” to the victim. During the hearing, Nethery admitted to all allegations, including that he had established the profile specifically to make contact with an individual—an action the committee described as “unacceptable.”

In their determination, the regulatory committee noted that Nethery had demonstrated “insight” into his misconduct and had taken concrete steps toward remediation. Following the incident, Nethery completed an online course on responsible social media use and has withdrawn from all social media platforms entirely.

The committee took into consideration testimony from Nethery’s current employer, who characterized his professional conduct both before and after the incident as “unblemished.” This factor appears to have influenced the committee’s decision to impose a warning rather than more severe sanctions.

“The registrant had shown demonstrable insight,” the fitness to practise committee stated in their report. “He had taken effective remediable action, and his behaviour in his personal life is unlikely to be repeated.” Based on these considerations, the committee concluded that a formal warning was the appropriate regulatory response.

This case highlights the increasing scrutiny that healthcare professionals face regarding their online activities, even when these activities occur outside their professional practice. Regulatory bodies like the PSNI have been paying closer attention to how healthcare professionals conduct themselves on social media, recognizing that inappropriate online behavior can damage public trust in the profession.

For pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, the case serves as a reminder that regulatory oversight extends beyond clinical practice to include personal conduct, particularly when that conduct involves deception or causes distress to others.

The PSNI, which regulates pharmacy practice in Northern Ireland, maintains standards of professional conduct that apply to registrants both in their professional capacity and in their personal lives when behavior might impact public confidence in the pharmacy profession.

While the warning represents a relatively mild sanction, it will remain on Nethery’s professional record and could be taken into consideration if any future concerns about his conduct arise. The case underscores the importance of maintaining professional ethics across all spheres of life for those working in positions of public trust.