£2,000 received for client following a pharmacist dispensing error

Mr N suffered redness and soreness following the removal of a skin tag. He attended his GP, who felt that he was likely suffering from a viral infection and he was prescribed the oral antiviral agent, Aciclovir. Mr N later on presented his prescription to a local Chemist but was unfortunately issued the wrong medication by the Pharmacist. Mr N was unaware of the dispensing error and went home with a supply of Donepezil instead; which is a cholinergic drug used for the treatment of

Dementia in Alzheimer’s disease. He began taking these tablets up to 5 times a day (as prescribed) whereby after 2-3 days he became increasingly unwell. Mr N experienced side effects including suffering from nausea, headaches, dizziness, anxiety, mood disturbances and he noticed an overall decline in his cognitive abilities, becoming forgetful which would impact upon his ability to carry out his job.

As a result of Mr N not being given the correct medication for his infection, his symptoms deteriorated to the point that he felt the urgency to attend the Emergency Department at his local Hospital where eventually the medication error was noted. He was then prescribed the correct medication and once he began taking the correct tablets, his redness and soreness began to improve.

Mr N contacted Aston Knight Solicitors to see if he was able to make a claim for the dispensing error by his Pharmacist. A claim was duly brought and a very low settlement offer was made which was rejected by Mr N. Further medical evidence was obtained and further negotiations took place and a settlement was reached in the sum of £2,000.

Emma Pearce, the solicitor who dealt with the case commented:

“Errors like this occur more frequently than one might realise and can lead to significant consequences for patients. Thankfully, our client made a complete recovery. In the unfortunate circumstance of a medication error, it is crucial for patients to seek medical attention right away to minimise any negative effects. Furthermore, they should report the incident so that appropriate steps are taken to avert similar mistakes in the future”.

Please feel free to get in touch should you wish to discuss a matter with us.  We offer a free, no-obligation and confidential initial consultation for all potential personal injury and clinical negligence matters and are happy to take on cases from other firms including failed/closed cases.

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