February 3, 2006 - 11:46pm
I was given the wrong prescription by a pharmacist at a large drugstore chain. I believe it was an honest mistake but there could have been a real problem had I not noticed that it was the wrong pill. What should I do? The pharmacist has apologized but.....? Do I have a responsibility to pursue this further? Any input is appreciated.
February 7, 2006 - 12:22pm
#2
Mistakes happen occasionally
Mistakes happen occasionally because pharmacists are overworked or pharmacists can't read the doctors' handwriting or because many medicines have similar names.
Everyone needs to take responsibility and double check prescriptions when it is the first RX or when you get a new generic that looks different from your last RX or refill. There are many sources on the internet so that you can double check the pills. Look at the Resources for Pill Identification - http://www.pharmer.org/identification - choose a pill ID source from the list and try to confirm your pill. Or just ask here before taking anything if you have any doubts.
I don't think suing anyone accomplishes anything, especially since no harm was done. Americans are too quick to sue.
Once my husband got a wrong prescription and ended up in the hospital a week later. But he has lots of medical conditions and takes many drugs. We still have no idea if the RX made him so sick or if it was all his other medicines together or if his illnesses had a turn for the worse. We never thought about suing the doctor or pharmacist though. Errors shouldn't happen but they do. And there is no way to prove it was exactly that medication that put him back in the hospital.
Needless to say we check all prescriptions thoroughly now. First we identify them and then we start reading all about the drugs from various sources. It's best to be fully informed before taking any medications.
Hope this helps.
Princess
Hope my link works now.
February 12, 2006 - 8:06pm
#3
PHARMACIST MAKES A MISTAKE
ON 08/17/1996 A KAISER PHARMASIST MADE A MISTAKE THAT TOOK MY SISTERS LIFE. SHE WAS AN ATTORNEY AND SUFFERED FROM HIGH BLOOD PREASUERE. SHE WAS ON BLOOD PREASURE MEDICATION TO LOWER ITWHEN HER DOCTOR DECIDED TO TRY A DIFFERENT ONE. SHE TOOK IT TO KAISER R.X. ( WHERE SHE GOT ALL OF HER MEDS FILLED) AND THE PHARMASIST DID NOT COUNSEL HER TELLING HER THAT SHE COULD NOT TAKE THE NEW DRUG ALONG WITH THE OLD ONE BECAUSE THE COMBINATION WOULD CAUSE HER TO HAVE NO BLOOD PREASURE AT ALL... IT WAS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON WHEN SHE TOOK THE NEW DRUG. BY MIDNIGHT WE FOUND HER IN A COMA HAVING GRAND-MAL SEZIURES. BY NOON THE FOLLOWING DAY ( WHICH HAPPEND TO BE MY HUSBANDS BIRTHDAY OF ALL DAYS! ) WE TOOK HER OFF OF LIFE SUPPORT AND SHE DIED. WE DID PERSURE NOT ONLY CIVALY , BUT CRIMINALLY. IN THE CRIMINAL TRIAL IT CAME OUT THAT THE PHARMASIST, WAS AT FAULT AND HE NOT ONLY LOST HIS JOB AND LISCENSE, BUT WENT TO PRISON FOR NEGILENT HOMASIDE. AND WE ALOS SUED KAISER AND WON AROUND 4 1/2 MILLION DOLLERS FOR WRONGFULL DEATH, WHICH WE GAVE TO GOLDEN GATE LAW SCHOOL IN SAN FRANSICO ( WHERE SHE OBTAINED HER LAW DEGERE) TO MAKE A SCOLARSHIP FUND IN HER NAME SO PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO BECOME A LAWYER AND DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR SCHOOL COULD HAVE THEIR EDUCATION , OBTAIN THEIR DEGREE , AND HELP OTHERS AS MY SISTER DID. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD #19 GRADUATES...... YES I THINK THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR "MISTAKES"
Get all you can. Sue the place, for every dime you can get.
A.T.E. could CARE, that you caught it. WHAT IF YOU DID NOT.
Whatever emotional damages you have to come up with There is a time to be nice, and a time to GET SOME.