Dispensing error resulting in Jail Sentence

[the old merlin]

Hi colleagues.

I think everyone should be aware of this on pjonline.com/news.
http://www.pjonline.com/news/former_...spensing_error
A pharmacist has been given a suspended jail term for a dispensing error


It would be good if everyone looked at this case and sent their views to pjonlne for the "great and good" to read.

There. colleagues, but for the grace of god. Hands up everyone in community who has NEVER made a dispensing error. Or in a hospital dispensary, come to that!
I know I have!

[objective_view]

This case (originally referred to at start of this thread) was concluded in the Old Bailey, London on the 2nd April 2009.

A former locum pharmacist has been sentenced to a three-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, following a dispensing error. The judge also ordered the defendant to complete a 12-month supervision requirement with the probation service.

Elizabeth Lee, of Victor Road, Windsor, Berkshire, who was working at a Tesco pharmacy, mistakenly dispensed propranolol instead of prednisolone for 72-year-old Carmel Sheller, who died three days later in hospital.

The court heard on 2 April 2009 that Mrs Lee was working 10-hour shifts without a break when she supplied the wrong drug.....

see: Former locum handed suspended jail term for dispensing error | PJ Online

This is very worrying indeed. Professionals being expected to be duly dilligent whilst working ten hour shifts with no break is a recipe for disaster!

It is all very well and good to call for an increase in pay as if it to compensate for the dangers Pharmacist face with the increased pressure of targets and that mistakes are more or less inevitable... This is not the approach professional pharmacists as a body should be taking. Instead they should be reasoning with their employers to ensure proper levels of staffing are maintained to ensure they can peform their duties at optimum levels. Thus ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the community they serve rather than concentrating on budgets and targets set by the multi nationals and big chains/super stores... THOUGHTS?


If there are other concerns with regard to prescription dispensing then this is the time to get them publicly discussed. How could the public be protected further from this kind of error? Perhaps a dual prescription system could be undertaken by Doctors to always supply patients with two copies of every prescription. One to hand over to the pharmacist for dispensing and one for the patients records that they can use to compare to the medicines dispensed by the pharmacy. If Patients had this copy prescription and were educated to check carefully before using new medicines then this scenario could be mitigated somewhat in the future. It won't neccessarily alter any charges that could be levied under the medicines act as it stands but could prevent more tragic consequences as highlighted in this particular case. More over if Pharmacists are seen to actively encourage this development and participate in an education program to check dispensed medicines against a copy prescription then they would greatly improve their standing with the Public that they serve...

See Petition to: Introduce Legislation that makes it mandatory for Doctors to supply a carbon "Carmel" copy of every prescription for the patient to keep and for the Pharmaceutical Industry to clearly label all medicines with the medical name o

for details of this very idea raised by the son of the deceased in this case as a petition at Number 10...

THOUGHTS??

[Rafael]

RSPGB Major legal errors

[DavidS]

Shocking. Done as requested, Merlin. Thanks for posting this, everyone.

[objective_view]

Outside the Old Bailey:

HEALTH: Chemist admits mistakenly supplying wrong drugs to pensioner

[Rafael]

the forum is the the way forward to start any petition, with 2000 members, and having the option that admin can send an e-mail to everyone. we can make a difference now, wait till more members join by next year then we can make a big difference.....

[DavidS]

Hi, I've tried to tidy things up a bit here, so all the discussion takes place on one thread.

So, there's still a bit left from before the verdict was announced, on
RSPGB Major legal errors

but everything else is here, I think.

[the old merlin]

Thanks DavidS and "objective_view".

I think it's important to rely on a reliable source; that's why I wasn't keen on the Mail!

I think anyone who has ever dispensed will think "there but for the grace of god go I".
However careful we've been.

It would be useful to know how far into her shift she was!

[Jeff]

Hang about - working 10 hour shifts without a break is a matter of choice.
If someone habitually makes dumb choices and it results in a danger to the public what are we supposed to do?

Say it could have happened to anyone!!

Shouldn't we be saying that that 10 hour shifts and a contract that doesn't allow a pharmacy to close in the event of staff shortages is inherently unsafe.

If a contractor allows people to work 10 hour shifts without a break - they are IMO increasing the level of risk and should be expected to be held accountable when that decision to increase the level of risk goes pear shaped.

Jeff

[Sir_Dispensalot]

so why aren't sanctions brought against the pct for insisting that a pharmacist be present in the pharmacy for the full 100 hours with no break, as is the case with my current location? Store and head office management insist we take a break, but how can we if the pct insist otherwise and threaten to take away the contract?

Over the past 12 months i can count on the fingers of one hand how many breaks i have had. Every single one of which has been interrupted.