Iowa Veterinarian Faces Charges from State Pharmacy Board Over Drug Allegations

August 6, 2025

A veterinarian in Iowa, Bradley Gordon, was charged with failing to ensure physical security controls for controlled substances. The Board of Pharmacy claims the veterinarian, from Altoona, failed to maintain accountability of controlled substances and related records, and also failed to ensure inventory records included the drug strengths and dosages.

If you or someone you know is in charge of handling medicines and facing allegations of improper handling or a disciplinary investigation, the LLF National Law Firm can help protect your license and your career. Call the LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or complete our form online to discuss your case.

Why the Pharmacy Board Has Jurisdiction Over a Veterinarian

It might sound weird that the Pharmacy Board can investigate a veterinarian; however, this falls under their jurisdiction for the following reasons:

  • Veterinarians, like doctors who treat humans, have the authority to prescribe, administer, and dispense a wide variety of medications, including controlled substances.
  • There are federal and state laws that regulate the use and distribution of medications, with the purpose of preventing abuse. This means oversight over those who can dispense them.
  • The State Board of Veterinary Medicine oversees the practice of veterinary medicine, but the State Board of Pharmacy typically has jurisdiction over the dispensing and storage of medication by any licensed professional who handles them. This is true in Iowa, where the Iowa Board of Pharmacy oversees Controlled Substances Act registrations for individual practitioners, which includes veterinarians.

The Rules of Medicine Handling

Anyone authorized to handle, prescribe, or dispense medications is subject to strict rules. That applies to pharmacists, doctors, nurses, or veterinarians. These regulations are designed to prevent abuse, ensure patient safety, maintain accountability, and protect public health.

Failure to adhere to these rules can lead to severe consequences, including:

  • License suspension or revocation
  • Substantial fines
  • Criminal charges will depend on the severity and nature of the violation.
  • Damage to a professional’s reputation

How the LLF National Law Firm Can Help

If you are a professional licensed to handle medications, it’s important to understand what the rules and regulations are and what you can do to make sure you don’t get in trouble with your licensing board or state pharmacy board. Even if you aren’t facing allegations yet, the best way to prevent them is to understand what standards you’re being held against. The LLF National Law Firm can help.

This is even more important if you are already facing allegations regarding your handling of drugs. The LLF National Law Firm Professional Defense Team can help you navigate board investigations, which have their own unique rules and procedures, advocate to prevent suspension or revocation of your license, and craft a robust defense.

We can also ensure your rights are protected, whether you’re facing administrative or criminal proceedings, and we can even negotiate favorable outcomes that will allow you to maintain your reputation and protect your license.

Often, regulations surrounding controlled substances are so complex that even unintentional errors can lead to serious consequences. But you don’t have to face these allegations alone. Call the LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or complete our form online, and we will get in touch with you.

Categories