Pharmacy Error at Palm Coast Florida Walgreens Leads to Overdose of 3 Month Old
According to a story posted at http://www.local6.com/news/16045570/detail.html an Orlando area Walgreens misfilled a three month old baby's prescription for Histacol DM syrup. Apparently, the child was supposed to receive 1/4 ml of the syrup. However, Walgreens pharmacy typed the wrong dose instructions on the bottle. Instead of 1/4 ml, the prescription was mislabeled as 1/4 teaspoon. The dosing mistake led to the family giving their daughter six times the recomended amount of medication. Her parents told http://www.local6.com their daughter became non-responsive shortly after taking the medicine. Walgreens admitted the pharmacy mistake in a phone call to the family two hours after the mistake occurred. Unfortunately, the family had already given the first dose of the medication to their daughter. It appears, however, the error was caught in time to prevent any long term damage. The family rushed their baby to the hospital where she was stablized and sent home.
Stories like this shed light on the ongoing problem of pharmacy malpractice. Often such medication mistakes occur in part because of the pressure associated with high volume pharmacies that are understaffed. It is too early to tell if such prsesures led to this medication mistake. However, several personal injury lawsuits against Walgreens in the last two years have alleged the pressure to move quickly in filling prescriptions contributed to misfilled prescriptions that caused death. In fact, their have been at least three multimillion dollar jury verdicts against Walgreens since 2006 involving death as a result of pharmacy errors.
In this case, Walgreens offered the family $2000.00 as compensation for their mistake. The baby's mother is quoted in the article as saying "Two thousand dollars for almost killing my baby, Its almost like, don't bother." Her sentiments are not unusual. Family members often feel insulted by lowball settlement offers made by companies in situations such as this one. So why did Walgreens offer such a small amount? The truth is offering token hush money often works. The drumbeat of tort reform has conditioned people to think it is imoral to hold wrongdoers financially responsible for pain and suffering damages. For example, the baby's father apparently said "Don't get me wrong, we could use the money or $2000.00. But if this will save someone else's life, they can keep their $2000.00."
The fathers desire to hold Walgreens accountable by having the media report on the issue is commendable. But one story in the paper is not going to change anything. It is also true that Walgreens paying the family money for their pain and suffering is not going to change anything. Paying pain and suffering damages will, however, hold Walgreens accountable for the damages they have caused. Furthermore, the cumulative effect of media exposure and lawsuits, over time can change a wrongdoers incentive to continue with policies that cause harm.
Scott Distasio
Orlando Pharmacy Malpractice Lawyer
Distasio Law Firm
Helping Injured People
OFFICES: TAMPA
1-888-595-0022
