PHARMACEUTICAL Defence Limited (PDL) has highlighted a recent coronial inquest which found a pharmacist's dispensing error was a contributing factor to the death of an elderly consumer.
The patient was wrongly dispensed rosuvastatin instead of the prescribed simvastatin 40mg tablets, with the error discovered in hospital where the patient died of rhabdomyolysis.
A "critical failure in pharmacy practice" was identified because the consumer's husband identified that the dispensed item appeared different to normal, but was reassured about the discrepancy.
PDL said consumer concerns and queries should always be taken seriously, with pharmacy managers advised to instruct staff to refer all questions around medication to the pharmacist on duty.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 31 Jul 18
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