Earlier this month, a local Virginia pharmacy was shut down by state regulators after myriad safety violations were discovered. According to one news source, not only was the pharmacy shut down and its ability to operate suspended, but the lead pharmacist’s license was suspended.
Evidently, the pharmacy was the subject of two unannounced visits: one in May 2014 and another in February 2015. After the second inspection, regulators called into question the pharmacy’s ability to “assure the quality, sterility, integrity, safety, and efficacy of drugs dispensed, along with its ability to safeguard against the diversion of drugs.”
According to the report, regulators discovered numerous issues during their inspections, including:
- Storage and Security issues: Some 50,000 prescription pain killers had gone missing over the course of the inspection period.
- Mislabeled Medications: Inspectors found medication that was mislabeled as well as unlabeled medication. Some medication bottles had more pills than the label stated.
- Expired Medication: Inspectors also found expired medication in the pharmacy inventory.
- Improper Storage: Inspectors discovered that prescription medication was kept in an unsecured refrigerator in an area that was left open to the public.
- Lapses in Care: Inspectors found records indicating that drug compounds were made by a pharmacists but were never initialed to show who the compounding pharmacist was in case of a problem.
Responsibilities of a Pharmacist
It seems that regulators had good reason to suspend operations in the pharmacy mentioned in the article above. Aside from failing to secure the safety of what could be dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, the pharmacy seemingly kept prescription medication in locations where it could get adulterated by any member of the public. Moreover, the pharmacist kept expired and mislabeled medication on hand, virtually asking for a serious or fatal pharmacy error to occur.
Any time a pharmacist makes an error, their patient suffers. How much the patient suffers depends on the severity of the error. In too many cases each year, a pharmacy patient dies or becomes seriously ill because of the mistake of a pharmacist. In these cases, the victim of the error, or their family, may wish to seek monetary compensation for their injuries or loss. Maryland permits those injured by pharmacy errors to recover through a lawsuit based on theories of medical negligence. To learn more, contact a dedicated Maryland pharmacy error attorney.
Have You Been the Victim of a Pharmacist’s Negligence?
If you or a loved one has recently been the victim of the negligence of a pharmacist, you may be entitled to monetary damages. While each case is different, it is not uncommon for a successful plaintiff to recover amounts for past medical bills, future medical expenses, and lost wages, as well as compensation for their pain and suffering. In cases when a loved one dies because of a pharmacist’s negligence, compensation for your loss may be appropriate, depending on the circumstances. To learn more about pharmacy error cases, and to speak with a dedicated attorney about your case, call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Woman Hospitalized for “Poisoning” After Pharmacist’s Error, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, February 23, 2015.
California Costco Pharmacy Mis-Fills One Patient’s Prescription Twice in One Year, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, January 22, 2015.