Pharmacist in England Receives a Suspended Jail Sentence for Prescription Error
According to pjonline.com Pharmacist Elizabeth Lee of Windsor, Berkshire was charged criminally for mistakenly dispensing propranolol instead of prednisolone to a 72 year old woman that later died in the hospital. Ms. Lee had apparently been working a 10 hour shift without break at the time the prescription error occurred. On April 2, 2009, the British court gave her a suspended sentence of 3 months in jail and 12 months of probation for her actions.
In the United States it is highly unlikely that this type of pharmacy mistake would lead to such an extreme reaction. Simply put, such negligent conduct does not warrant criminal charges. Instead, under our system of justice, the state pharmacy board would have the right to civil remedies such as requiring continuing education classes, a civil fine, and in extreme cases, suspension of license. In addition the injured person would have a right to bring a personal injury lawsuit for monetary damages.
Scott Distasio
Florida Pharmacy Malpractice Attorney
DISTASIO LAW FIRM
HELPING INJURED PEOPLE
OFFICES: TAMPA
888-595-0022
