Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
Earlier this year in Crystal Lake, Illinois, a five-year-old boy ended up taking a dangerous dose of an anti-psychotic drug when the pharmacy gave the drug to his mother under the auspice of a treatment for his allergies. According to a report by the local NBC affiliate, the young boy, Ali Ahmed, was in need of medication for his allergies, and a prescription was called in for him at the local Walgreen’s pharmacy.
When his mother went to pick up the prescription, she picked up what she thought to be the allergy medication that her son’s doctor had called in. However, the pharmacist gave her Halperidol instead, a dangerous anti-psychotic drug used primarily to treat adults with serious mental health issues.
Luckily, the boy’s parents only gave him a small dose of the wrong medication. After young Ali took the medication, he slept for two days straight. After waking, he had a small snack, and his neck began to flare. Emergency personnel were called, and eventually the flare went away. However, as soon as the neck flare went away, he began to act strangely and then fainted. His parents called the boy’s doctor, who told them to take him to the hospital immediately.
As it turns out, the Halperidol prescription was meant for an adult patient who shared the same name as the young boy. The boy’s family has filed suit against Walgreen’s for the trauma and potential long-term damages caused by the ingestion of the dangerous drug.
Walgreen’s released the statement: “We are sorry this occurred, and we have apologized to the family.”
Pharmacy Errors Increasing as Demand on Pharmacists Increases
As more and more people begin to fill their prescriptions at pharmacies around the country, stress is put on the pharmaceutical staff. With this stress comes an increased risk of a potential error. And in some cases that error can be grave.
The young boy whose situation was described above was lucky in that he did not suffer any serious immediate injuries or death from the ingestion of the dangerous medication he was given by the Walgreen’s pharmacy.
Liability for Pharmacy Errors
It should not be a surprise to hear that when a pharmacy does make an error in the medication they give to a patient, that pharmacy can be held liable in a civil court of law. Generally, the pharmacy can be held responsible for any injuries or trauma caused by the drugs given to the patient by accident.
Have You Been Provided the Wrong Drug By Your Pharmacy?
If you or a loved one has recently suffered adverse side effects from a drug that was not prescribed to you but was given to you by a pharmacy, you may be entitled to monetary damages to compensate you for your injuries. By speaking with a dedicated Maryland pharmacy error attorney, you can better understand what courses of action may be available to you. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Colorado Man Recovers Over $10 Million in Pharmaceutical Error Case, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, May 7, 2014.
Pharmaceutical Company’s Failure to Warn Did Not Cause Plaintiff’s Injury, Court Rules, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, April 29, 2014.