Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog

Walgreens Accused of Filling Millions of Illegitimate Prescriptions in Federal Lawsuit

March 31, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens, alleging the pharmacy chain played a direct role in fueling the opioid crisis by filling millions of unlawful prescriptions over the last decade. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, claims Walgreens pharmacists repeatedly dispensed controlled substances without verifying their legitimacy, allowing massive quantities of opioids and other drugs to flow through its stores unchecked. The allegations include violations of the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act, underscoring the severity of the claims against one of the country’s largest pharmacy chains.

Federal prosecutors argue that Walgreens ignored red flags signaling fraudulent prescriptions and pressured its pharmacists to prioritize speed over proper scrutiny. The company allegedly discouraged internal communication among pharmacy staff, preventing pharmacists from warning each other about high-risk prescribers. Internal data, which should have revealed patterns of abuse, was also reportedly disregarded. The lawsuit contends that Walgreens actively created an environment where pharmacists lacked the resources and authority to intervene, even when they suspected illegal activity.

Has Walgreens Played a Role in the Opoiod Crisis?

Opioid addiction has devastated communities across the country, and pharmacies are supposed to act as a safeguard against improper distribution. Instead, the Justice Department claims Walgreens became a key link in a broken system, allowing opioids to be dispensed in excessive amounts with little oversight. According to the complaint, the company filled prescriptions that were blatantly unlawful, ignored concerns raised by its own pharmacists, and continued processing opioid orders despite clear signs of abuse.

AI Cameras and Pharmacy Errors in Maryland

March 5, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Medication errors remain one of the most serious risks in clinical and pharmacy settings, often leading to severe health complications or fatalities. With new advancements in artificial intelligence, AI-enabled wearable cameras could change how drug dispensing errors are detected and prevented. These cameras, designed to monitor and verify drug vial and syringe matches in real time, offer a glimpse into the future of error prevention. While this technology holds promise for reducing medication-related harm, it also raises important legal questions about liability when mistakes occur.

<strong> How Can AI Reduce Pharmacy Errors?</strong>

Pharmacy errors happen for various reasons, from mislabeling and incorrect dosages to dispensing the wrong medication. Introducing AI cameras, such as those tested in hospital settings to detect vial swap errors, could help prevent these mistakes before they reach patients. These wearable cameras use deep learning algorithms to identify the drug type on a vial label and verify that it matches the medication being prepared. If an error is detected, the system can issue an alert, allowing pharmacists, anesthesiologists, or other medical professionals to correct the mistake before administration.

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The Risks of Compounded Medications in Maryland Pharmacies

February 28, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Prescription errors can have devastating consequences, particularly when they involve compounded medications that do not undergo the same rigorous testing as FDA-approved drugs. A recent JAMA study highlights growing concerns about compounded glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which have surged in popularity due to their effectiveness in treating diabetes and promoting weight loss. While compounding pharmacies play an important role in customizing medications for individual needs, errors in this process can result in serious health risks.

Understanding the risks associated with compounded drugs is essential for Maryland patients who rely on pharmacies to provide safe medications. When a pharmacy makes an error with a compounded medication, patients may suffer severe side effects, incorrect dosages, or exposure to harmful contaminants. Legal options exist for those harmed by prescription mistakes, but proving liability requires an experienced attorney who understands the regulations surrounding Maryland pharmacies and compounded drugs.

Understanding Compounded Medications and Their Purpose

How Pharmacy Errors Threaten Patient Safety in Maryland

February 22, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Errors in pharmacy settings create significant risks for patients, especially when healthcare facilities fail to provide adequate staffing and oversight. Prescription mistakes, ranging from incorrect dosages to harmful drug interactions, can lead to severe complications. These preventable errors often stem from systemic failures, including poor management and high turnover among pharmacy teams. Patients in Maryland trust hospitals and pharmacies to ensure their safety, but the consequences can be devastating when that trust is broken.

Medication reconciliation programs, designed to review and verify patients’ medication histories, are a vital safeguard. These programs aim to prevent adverse drug events by identifying inconsistencies, such as duplicate prescriptions or omissions. However, their ability to protect patients diminishes when reconciliation teams face resource shortages. As a result, medication errors become more frequent and more dangerous, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and systemic reform.

The Critical Role of Medication Reconciliation Programs

Pharmacy Errors and Patient Safety: What Maryland Patients Need to Know

December 27, 2024 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Recent allegations against a pharmacy for medication errors and record-keeping failures highlight the devastating impact pharmacy mistakes can have on patients’ lives. Cases of incorrect prescriptions, improper labeling, and unreported errors underscore the risks patients face when pharmacies fail to meet their professional obligations. Under Maryland law, pharmacies and their staff have strict licensing requirements and responsibilities to ensure patient safety. When errors occur, victims may be entitled to pursue legal compensation claims.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to a pharmacy error, understanding your rights and the legal options available is essential to recovering damages and preventing further harm.

What Are the Licensing Requirements and Responsibilities for Maryland Pharmacies?

Pharmacies in Maryland operate under strict licensing requirements enforced by the Maryland Board of Pharmacy. These regulations ensure that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians maintain the necessary qualifications and adhere to professional standards. Pharmacies are required to maintain accurate records of prescriptions and transactions to ensure accountability and traceability in their operations. They must also comply with federal and state laws that govern the safe and lawful dispensing of medications. Additionally, pharmacies are expected to participate in quality improvement programs designed to identify and prevent errors, ensuring that patient safety remains a top priority in their practices.

AI-Enabled Wearables May Help Pharmacists Detect Medication Errors

November 30, 2024 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare continues to revolutionize patient safety, particularly in preventing medication errors. According to a recent report from TechTarget Health IT, researchers have developed an AI-enabled wearable device that monitors patients and identifies medication errors in real-time. This cutting-edge technology not only enhances patient safety but also highlights the ongoing challenges and risks associated with medication errors.

For patients who suffer harm due to medication mistakes, these innovations may provide an additional layer of protection. However, even the most advanced technology cannot replace the need for accountability when errors occur. In such cases, pharmacy error attorneys play a critical role in helping victims seek justice and compensation.

The Role of AI in Medication Safety

Types of Claims Maryland Prescription Error Victims Can Pursue

October 31, 2024 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A recent case involving a woman in Florida highlights the serious risks of pharmacy errors. The woman, battling severe blood clots after breast cancer treatment, was given the wrong medication when she filled her prescription at a pharmacy. Though this incident occurred in Florida, it raises important questions about the legal rights of patients in Maryland who may face similar pharmaceutical errors.

In Maryland, victims of prescription errors have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury or medical malpractice claim, depending on the circumstances of the case. Understanding how Maryland law addresses pharmaceutical negligence is crucial for those affected by such mistakes.

[sc_fs_faq html=”true” headline=”h3″ img=”” question=” What is Maryland Law on Pharmacy Errors?

FDA Warns of Compounding and Dosing Errors with Injectable Semaglutide Products

October 30, 2024 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The United States has become increasingly heavier over the past half century — overall obesity rates have increased three-fold since the 1960s. Currently, more than two-thirds of U.S. residents are now, by definition, overweight with those individuals qualifying as obese making up more than 40 percent of the population. Even more disturbing is the fact that one in ten individuals meet the medical criteria for a person who is morbidly obese, which can be a life-threatening condition if not counteracted by a change of diet and exercise.

Sadly, this increase in national obesity hasn’t happened overnight; in fact, it’s been a gradual and relentless process that has seen the number of overweight individuals in this country tripling over the past 60 years. Furthermore, the incidence of severe (morbid) obesity has increased ten-fold since the 1960s, and shockingly the figures may actually be an underestimation of this nationwide problem. Here in Maryland, the obesity rate is slightly below the national average at 34.3 percent as of 2021, but that is hardly any consolation.

With such a large number of overweight individuals in the U.S., dieting and nutritional advice has become big business over the past several decades. So many people, hoping to shed excessive weight quickly and with less effort, have fueled an entire industry of weight loss programs, supplements and prescription drugs. Enter Semaglutide, an FDA-approved pharmaceutical marketed by Novo Nordisk under several different brand names, which is being used to help patients with Type 2 diabetes and chronic obesity. This latest answer to the country’s obesity epidemic has shown great promise since its introduction several years ago, but as with many medications there are potential pitfalls and dangers facing those who take advantage of this breakthrough drug.

Pharmacy Compounding Errors and Legal Accountability in Maryland

September 30, 2024 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Pharmacies play a critical role in ensuring patients receive the correct medications. When a pharmacy fails in its duties, particularly with compounded medications, the results can be disastrous, as seen in a recent case where children were hospitalized after receiving incorrectly compounded prescriptions. Pharmacy errors, like improper compounding, can lead to severe consequences. Under Maryland law, pharmacies must adhere to stringent regulations to ensure patient safety. Understanding these regulations and what happens when they are violated is essential for those affected by such mistakes.

Maryland Regulations for Pharmacy Compounding

In Maryland, pharmacies that engage in compounding must comply with state and federal laws designed to protect patients. Compounding is not as simple as filling a prescription—it requires creating custom medication by combining ingredients based on a patient’s needs. This process requires precision and oversight, and pharmacists are legally obligated to ensure that the medications they prepare are accurate, safe, and adequately documented.

Children Given COVID-19 Vaccine Instead of Flu Shots at a Walgreens Pharmacy

August 31, 2024 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Vaccine and pharmaceutical errors can have serious consequences, especially when the wrong medication or dosage is administered. While vaccines are a vital part of public health, mistakes in their administration can lead to unintended injuries and significant concern for families. Understanding your rights under Maryland law is crucial if your child has been affected by a pharmacy error.

Walgreens Pharmacy Error Leads to COVID-19 Vaccination of Young Children

An Indiana couple previously reported that their 4- and 5-year-old children were mistakenly given adult doses of the COVID-19 vaccine instead of the flu shots they were scheduled to receive at a local Walgreens pharmacy. The mix-up occurred during a routine vaccination appointment, leaving the parents deeply concerned about the potential health impacts on their young children.