I keep hearing that major chains are involved in prescription drug error lawsuits. Should I go to a smaller pharmacy instead?

 

A:

There may be some advantage to using a smaller pharmacy, since the staff is more likely to know you personally and take note of your medication changes. Unfortunately, there are problems with both types of locations - and no matter where you go, there’s no guarantee against medication mistakes.

 

Doctors and pharmacists agree that there are many factors influencing the number of errors, including underpaid techs, pressure on performance, and unsafe company policies. For example:

 

• Indiana physician Steve Ariens, a member of the Pharmacy Alliance which tracks pharmacy mistakes nationwide, estimates that 7,000 Americans die every year as a result of prescription drug errors.
• Pat Epple, CEO of the Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association, says technicians are both underpaid and under pressure by their employers. "It's hard to pay a technician a lot of money, but yet you're counting on them to deal with something that's life saving or life threatening," Epple says. 
• Joe Zorek, the former pharmacist at a Harrisburg area CVS, has filed a lawsuit stating that the pharmacy chain is putting profits ahead of safety, causing many harmful medication mistakes every year.

 

The pharmacy error lawyers at Kennedy Hodges know that it will take some time before medication errors are eradicated. Until then, we continue to fight for justice for drug error victims and their families. Call us today at 888-526-7616 for a FREE legal consultation on your case.

 

Want to read more about your rights to compensation? Click the link above to receive a FREE copy of our informational guide, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for your Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.