Earlier last month, a news article discussed a recently filed case brought by a woman who was provided the wrong medication by a national pharmacy chain. According to the news report, the woman suffered from restless leg syndrome and was provided a prescription for Ropinirole by her physician. She called in the prescription to a nearby pharmacy, picked up her pills, and took them home. She took the first dose later that night.
After taking the first dose of the medication she was provided by the pharmacist, the woman started feeling odd and suffering from serious nightmares. She explained that she was hallucinating and didn’t know what was going on, and it felt as though her limbs were detaching from her body. Her husband told reporters that his wife awoke in the middle of the night, telling him strange stories that did not make any sense.
On the next day, the woman’s daughter noticed that her mother was not acting normally and checked the pill bottle. Her mother’s name was on the outside of the bottle, and the correct medication name and dosage was on the front of the bottle; however, when she opened the bottle, the pills did not match the label. The bottle contained Risperdone, a powerful anti-psychotic used to treat schizophrenia. After the woman discovered the error, she was taken to the hospital and connected to an IV to flush her system.
According to the news report, the woman has since filed a personal injury lawsuit against the pharmacy chain. Since the case was only recently filed, it remains to be seen how it will turn out.
Proving a Pharmacy Error
While it may seem easy to prove a pharmacy error claim, in many cases the opposite is true. The difficulty is not usually in proving that a mistake was made but instead that the pharmacist’s mistake was the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. In most cases, proving causation in a pharmacy error case requires the testimony of at least one medical expert to help explain the effects that a certain medication can have on a person’s body who was not prescribed that medication. A dedicated pharmacy error attorney can help victims of pharmacy errors understand what will be required of them and can help them get in touch with any necessary medical expert witnesses.
Have You Been a Victim of a Pharmacy Error?
If you or a loved one has recently been a victim of a pharmacist’s negligence, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The dedicated team of personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the Maryland-based law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers has the experience and skill necessary to handle any pharmacy error claim. With their extensive experience behind you, you can rest assured that you are in good hands. Call 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated personal injury advocate.
More Blog Posts:
Pharmacists May Admit Responsibility for Error but Still Deny Legal Liability in the Face of Pending Litigation, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, March 6, 2017.
Family of Pharmacy Error Victim Disappointed with Pharmacist’s Two-Month Suspension, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, February 1, 2017.