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Virginia (VA) Medical Malpractice Lawyers
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Blog Category:

Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes

2/3/2010
James Lewis
Comments (0)

Prescription Drug Dispensing Error Costs Rite Aid $2.5 Million

An Alabama woman who mistakenly received a powerful and potentially dangerous steroid instead of the painkiller she was prescribed has won a $2 million judgment against Rite Aid, the pharmacy chain that employed the pharmacist who made the dispensing error. According to the Montgomery (AL) Advertiser, the woman developed Cushing's syndrome after taking high doses of oral dexamethasone instead of the drug her doctor had prescribed. The woman's husband received a related $500,000 judgment for being deprived of his wife's companionship while she suffered from muscle weakness, rapid weight gain and other symptoms that can mark Cushing's syndrome.

Reports of the suit do not specify which painkiller the woman should have received. However, the authoritative Merck Manual notes that dexamethasone was once sold under the brand name Decadron and that the name could be mistaken for Percodan. Physicians often prescribe medications by brand name, leaving it to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to identify and substitute generic equivalents. Generic substitution is legal and rarely creates problems for patients because generic prescription medication approved for sale in the United States must have active ingredients that are exactly the same as the brand name drugs they replace.

Percodan combines aspirin with the narcotic medication oxycodone. Dexamethasone does not relieve pain, and side effects from taking the corticosteroid can include Cushing's-like problems.

Prescription drug dosing, dispensing and administration errors are among the most common medical mistakes, and their effects can be severe. As medication experts, pharmacists have legal and professional obligations to ensure that prescriptions are filled correctly. Companies and health care facilities that employ pharmacists have the duty of ensuring pharmacists meet their obligations.

Rite Aid has announced that it will not appeal the jury's verdict in this case, which shows that the pharmacy chain is accepting its responsibilities. The chain and its employees should also take this incident as an opportunity to learn how to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

EJL

Labels: dangerous drug doctor drugs errors injury lawyer Jim Lewis medical errors medical malpractice medication mistakes painkiller pharmacist prescription Rite Aid side effects


About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about. 

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.


Best Virginia Injury Lawyers  Virginia Super Lawyers  





About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about. 

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.


Best Virginia Injury Lawyers  Virginia Super Lawyers  




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