Earlier this month, a Fox News affiliate posted an article discussing pharmacy errors in general but also covering the fact that the nationwide drugstore chain, Walgreen’s, has currently had several claims made against it alleging the negligence of pharmacy personnel. According to the report, there have been two recent accusations that Walgreen’s provided the wrong drug to pharmacy patients.
In the first instance, a mother went to pick up what she believed was her son’s allergy medication. However, instead of the allergy medicine, the filling pharmacist provided the boy’s mother with a strong anti-psychotic medication. The woman gave her son two doses of the medicine and then noticed the ill effects of the medication. Her son could not talk or breathe. She took him to the hospital where the error was discovered. and hospital staff told the woman that she likely would have lost her son had she given him one more dose.
The second alleged error took place when a 15-year-old girl went to fill her prescription for antibiotics. However, instead of antibiotics she was provided Olanzapine, a medicine used to treat schizophrenia. The girl told reporters that her heart started racing, and she started to get blurred vision. Thankfully, she was treated at the hospital and made a full recovery.
The Prevalence of Pharmacy Errors
Pharmacy errors are more common than most people realize. In fact, one study found that approximately 1.7% of all prescriptions result in some kind of error. Considering that there are roughly 40 billion prescriptions filled each year, that means that there are likely more than 40 million prescription errors each year across the country.
With that said, it is difficult to determine exactly how many errors occur, since federal law allows for pharmacies to not report their errors, as long as they have some internal review process in place. The result is that the public rarely hears about most pharmacy errors.
Filing Suit Against Negligent Pharmacies
While pharmacies do not need to report their errors, those injured by a pharmacist’s negligence are still entitled to seek monetary compensation for their injuries through a Florida medical malpractice lawsuit. In order to be successful in a pharmacy error case, the plaintiff must be able to show that the pharmacist made a mistake, that the plaintiff took the medication relying on the pharmacist’s representation that the drug provided was the appropriate medication, and that they suffered some kind of compensable harm from taking the medication. In many cases, successful pharmacy error plaintiffs recover amounts for past medical expenses, future medical bills, and lost wages, as well as for their pain and suffering.
Have You Suffered after a Pharmacy Error?
If you or a loved one has recently been provided the wrong medication by a Florida pharmacist, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To learn more about pharmacy error cases, and to speak to a dedicated attorney about your case, call one of the skilled personal injury advocates at the Dean Law Firm at 352-387-8700. Scheduling an appointment is free, and you won’t be expected to pay for our services unless we are able to recover for you in your case.
More Blog Posts:
Tragic Florida Van Accident Claims 8 Lives, Injures 10 Others, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published April 3, 2015.
New Report Finds Pharmacy Errors Increasing at an Alarming Rate in Florida and Nationwide, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published March 19, 2015.