Often, pharmaceutical litigation involves medications that were rushed to market before they were completely safe, endangering the public in the interest of profits for big drug companies. Sometimes, however, lawsuits involve more personal cases, such as instances of drug injuries caused by doctor or pharmacy error. Worse still is when these incidents result, not just in injury, but in death.
A recently settled pharmaceutical lawsuit in another state may make Ohio residents think twice after picking up their prescriptions from a local pharmacy. According to records, a 67-year-old cancer survivor, on numerous medications for chronic pain, picked up the refill for her methadone prescription, a medication she had been prescribed for over a year at a 5 mg dosage. Four days later, the woman’s daughter discovered her dead at home.
Tragically, her death was allegedly the result of a mistake made at the pharmacy. A druggist there discovered his co-worker’s error, an error that the lawsuit states cost the patient her life. The pharmacist had reportedly doubled the dosage of methadone by mistake and filled the woman’s prescription with 10 mg tablets.
A week before trial was set to begin, the defendants settled with the woman’s grieving widower for $325,000. This amount is only $25,000 less than the cap on damages. A number of individuals nationwide are incensed that such a cap even exists, feeling it is horrific to claim a human life is worth such a small amount; many are lobbying to raise the cap or eliminate it altogether. In the meantime, however, anyone in Ohio who has suffered drug injuries or lost a loved one due to doctor or pharmacy error may wish to explore all available options for just compensation with an attorney well-versed in pharmaceutical litigation.
Source: jsonline.com, “Wisconsin pharmacist pays widower $325K after wife’s death“, Cary Spivak, Feb. 8, 2018
