March 4th, 2009
The relatives of a woman who died after being prescribed morphine that was ten times stronger than her usual dose have been awarded compensation.
Catherine Rodger, 74, had been taking 10mg of morphine sulphate for her bad back for 18 months. However, in November 2005, Dr Salahuddin Malik handwrote a prescription for two 100mg tablets.
This was dispensed by pharmacist Andrew Nixon. Ms Rodger took the first pill before going to bed, but she became ill during the night and died the next morning.
Her daughter, Rena Brady, 42, took legal action against both the doctor and the pharmacist, stating that it was "hard to accept" that her mother had died due to "stupid and careless mistakes by professionals".
After a court hearing, the judge ruled that Ms Rodger’s family should receive an undisclosed sum of damages for their loss.
NHS Tayside declined to comment.
Also known as MST, morphine sulphate is normally taken twice a day and is designed as a slow release variant of morphine.
Tags: 100mg Tablets, Brady, Careless Mistakes, Damages, Family Of Woman, Malik, Morphine, Morphine Sulphate, Mst, Next Morning, Nixon Ms, Pharmacist, Relatives, Rena, Salahuddin, Undisclosed Sum
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
September 24th, 2008
A woman who launched legal action after her son was prescribed the wrong medicine has been awarded £1,400 in compensation.
Joshua Donnelly, three, needs to take the anticonvulsant medicine Topamax for his epilepsy, the Evening Gazette reports.
However, after he had been taking the medicine for several days, he became unwell and had to be taken to hospital.
His mother Shirley Holt, 45, noticed after breaking a capsule up that there seemed to be too much powder and it emerged that the pharmacist at Harry Hill chemist in Billingham had mixed up his usual 15mg capsules with 50mg ones.
Although Joshua has now fully recovered, Ms Holt took legal action against the chemist and won a payout, although the firm did not admit liability.
Commenting on the episode, Ms Holt said: "If I hadn’t noticed when I did, who knows what would have happened? It is scary. I am very angry over it. I will never go back into his shop again."
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress.
Tags: Chemist, Clinical Negligence, Donnelly, Epilepsy, Evening Gazette, Hadn, Health Service, Injury Death, Joshua, Medical Claim, Medical Negligence Claim, Medicine, Pharmacist, Shirley Holt, Topamax, Woman, Wrong Medicine
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
July 31st, 2008
A pharmacist is facing possible suspension as a result of a mistake he made when giving out medication.
Achmat Rossier gave 71-year-old Anthony Peckham a dose of morphine ten times stronger than it should have been, the Cambridge Evening News reports.
Mr Peckham was found collapsed at his home in June 2006 and subsequently died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
In a new development, his family has called on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society – which aims to regulate, develop, lead and represent the pharmacy profession – to take action in order to prevent a similar incident occurring in the future.
The organisation has now launched an investigation which could potentially result in the suspension of Mr Rossier.
Earlier this year, coroner David Morris stated during an inquest that Mr Peckham would not have lost his life unless he had taken more than the prescribed dose of morphine.
He also alleged that the pharmacist had attempted to shift the blame on to his assistant.
Tags: Cambridge Evening News, Coroner, Inquest, Medication, Mistake, Morphine, Pharmacist, Pharmacy Profession, Rossier, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, S Hospital
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
