If I were an American ..
Dec 7th 2007, 1:38 pm
#16
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Posts: 46,391
Re: If I were an American ..
Exactly what I would have done. Although I'm American, I've not acquired the sue, sue, sue mentality. If I had it, we would not be working at the moment but instead sipping our coffee on a warm beach.
Although I don't practise as one, I'm a pharmacist and I can tell you that was a serious error.
I would:
1: Write a letter of complaint to the owner/manager of the pharmacy.
2: Same letter to head office if it's a chain.
3: Same letter to your state's Board of Pharmacy (whatever the licensing body is called there).
4: Follow up.
Don't make phone calls, contact everyone in writing. The paper trail is important. Maybe it's the pharmacist's first error. Maybe it's his tenth... the state board wants the information, and they will investigate.
Don't use hostile, accusatory language. Don't threaten to sue. You can always do that later if they simply ignore you. Outline the facts, including the description of the incorrect medication as best you remember it.
I would:
1: Write a letter of complaint to the owner/manager of the pharmacy.
2: Same letter to head office if it's a chain.
3: Same letter to your state's Board of Pharmacy (whatever the licensing body is called there).
4: Follow up.
Don't make phone calls, contact everyone in writing. The paper trail is important. Maybe it's the pharmacist's first error. Maybe it's his tenth... the state board wants the information, and they will investigate.
Don't use hostile, accusatory language. Don't threaten to sue. You can always do that later if they simply ignore you. Outline the facts, including the description of the incorrect medication as best you remember it.
Dec 7th 2007, 1:38 pm
#17
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Re: If I were an American ..
I did that the other day .. took a pic of the 3 drugs I'm currently taking on my phone camera as I knew I'd need to list them when going to see the Doc!
Saved me writing it all down!
Dec 7th 2007, 1:47 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Posts: 14,577
Re: If I were an American ..
Well this is true .. it did occur to me that this could have been a little old lady who didn't read the label where it states what the pills look like, and ended up taking them with disastrous consequences.
It was a chain - one of the big ones. If I do write, I won't be hostile, but will state the facts as were.
Should I take them back or keep hold of? Obviously I need the right ones - especially as I'm going back to the UK and will run out while I'm there if I don't get them
It was a chain - one of the big ones. If I do write, I won't be hostile, but will state the facts as were.
Should I take them back or keep hold of? Obviously I need the right ones - especially as I'm going back to the UK and will run out while I'm there if I don't get them
Dec 7th 2007, 2:01 pm
#20
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Dec 7th 2007, 2:25 pm
#22
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Re: If I were an American ..
The following line is now for sale. Pm me any offers...
"If I were an American, I'd have taken all of them!"
"If I were an American, I'd have taken all of them!"
Dec 7th 2007, 2:27 pm
#23
Last orders please...
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Dec 7th 2007, 2:30 pm
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: If I were an American ..
But I have been told by a malpractice attorney (re. someone who WAS actually harmed) that they generally do NOT do that. They may settle.... but only after they drag it out, cost time and attorney's fees - they settle the day before it'll actually go to court.
Therefore - attorney's will not take a case unless there is some significant possibly money involved. since these cases are done on contingency (attorney gets a percentage) - the companies have attorneys on retainer, doesn't cost them anything to fool around for years. Does cost the plaintiff and their attorney.
So unless there's a good case - it's not worth the bother.
In some cases, that isn't fair... but seems to be the way it often goes.
Dec 7th 2007, 2:45 pm
#25
In the pink
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,324
Re: If I were an American ..
My OH is American. He would just have taken them back, and exchanged them for the proper ones. Many Brits just said they would sue, a few Americans said they wouldn't. People are different.
To sue, I believe you would have had to have taken them, and become ill.
To sue, I believe you would have had to have taken them, and become ill.
Dec 7th 2007, 3:26 pm
#27
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Dec 7th 2007, 3:30 pm
#29
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Dec 7th 2007, 4:10 pm
#30
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Re: If I were an American ..
I don't know how things work in Texas, but in the jurisdiction where my pharmacy license is valid (Ontario, Canada) there is a formal procedure that is followed for all written complaints. EVERY such complaint is investigated. If the complaint is valid, the pharmacist can be brought before the Discipline Committee for a hearing of Professional Misconduct. If PM is found, the pharmacist is penalized. In a case such as Mandana's everyone will want to know the cause of the error. Look-alike/sound-alike drug names? Dispensary very busy that day? Dispensary short-staffed? Double-check procedures not in place or not followed? Was script double-checked and BOTH people missed the error? How is the error going to be prevented in future? Even without a lawsuit, there is going to be considerable pressure to make sure it doesn't happen again.