Earlier this month in New Zealand, a woman who was traveling throughout the country suffered worsening depression and potentially other long-term side effects after a pharmacist provided her with the wrong medication. According to one local news source, the woman went to see a general practice doctor who refilled her prescription of an SSRI medication used to treat her depression.
Evidently, the woman took the refill to a nearby pharmacy to get it filled. However, the filling pharmacist provided the woman with Duride instead of the SSRI medication. Duride is a cardiac medication typically used to treat angina. The error, however, was not immediately discovered. It took some time for the woman to notice a worsening in her depression. She began to once again suffer from anxiety, migraines, and heart palpitations. Her relationship broke down, and she was unable to find a job. She eventually went back to the doctor, who upon seeing the packaging of the medication she was taking, immediately knew it was not the SSRI she had been prescribed.
The doctor notified the pharmacy of the error. The pharmacist has since told reporters that there was “no explanation” for the mix-up. He also noted that, at the time of the error, the two medications had similar packaging and were near each other on the shelf. The pharmacist took full responsibility, noting that the pharmacy technician that day was not involved in the error, and he also apologized to the patient for the error.
Pharmacy Errors in Maryland
Although the woman mentioned in the discussion above suffered serious mental health issues as a result of the pharmacist’s error, it certainly could have been much worse. In many cases, a pharmacy error can result in an irreversible injury and potentially death.
Pharmacy errors can be dangerous for several reasons, only one of which is the effect the unprescribed drug may have on the individual taking it. Another reason a patient may suffer serious injury after being provided the wrong medication is that they are not receiving the medication they were actually prescribed by their doctor to treat whatever medical condition they are suffering from.
When a pharmacist does make an error, and the patient suffers as a result, the laws in Maryland allow for the injured patient to file a lawsuit against the pharmacist. To learn more, contact a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
Have You Suffered after a Pharmacist Provided You with the Wrong Drug?
If you or a loved one has recently been the victim of a pharmacist’s negligence, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Compensation may cover any medical expenses related to your injuries, lost wages while you were unable to work, and any decrease in earning capacity if the injuries suffered are long-term. Additionally, you may be eligible for non-economic damages to compensate you for the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the error. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
New Study Shows Post-Op Medication Errors More Common than Previously Thought, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, November 2, 2015.
Pharmacist Mistakenly Provides Chemotherapy Drug to Elderly Patient and Then Tries To Cover Up His Mistake, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, October 7, 2015.