PHARMACY NEGLIGENCE

PHARMACY NEGLIGENCE

PHARMACY NEGLIGENCE 150 150 Lauren Ellerman

We have two open cases right now against pharmacies.
Arizona Daily Sun Assistant City Editor LARRY HENDRICKS reports this week (read it in full here) – that an Arizona jury awarded $6 million last week to the family of a Coconino High School wrestling coach who died of a toxic drug interaction in December 2002.

Decedent’s estate filed suit against both the prescribing doctor, and the pharmacy claiming “Walgreen’s staff would have been given a computer warning on the drugs’ toxic interaction and would have been duty-bound to warn Warren and/or his physician of the danger.”

In conclusion, “the jury concluded that Warren was 1 percent responsible for his death, that Parfitt was 2 percent responsible, and Walgreen’s was 97 percent responsible, according to court documents.”

Please know folks – that while pharmacists have a duty to warn of known interactions, and to counsel you on the medications, in today’s fast pace world – there is rarely ANY counseling. Take the time to ask the pharmacists – “what is this drug? What is it for? Have I taken it before?” If you have an allergy, ask “Is this drug like _____, I am allergic?” Yes, they should check this for you, but in case they don’t, like in Arizona, better to be safe than sorry.

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Lauren Ellerman

In 2011, Lauren Ellerman was named "Young Lawyer of the Year" by the Roanoke Bar Association for her work in the community. To speak with Lauren about your personal injury case, contact her at lellerman@frithlawfirm.com.

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