Have you been going to the same pharmacy and receiving the same type of pills? If so, you most likely go through the motions of getting your bag of medication and paying — without consulting with the pharmacist. While this is normal behavior for many pharmacy patients, the story below will remind you to check the pills inside your bag before leaving the pharmacy in order to prevent a medication error from happening to you.
Recently, Elizabeth Turnbull, of Griggsville, Illinois, went to her local pharmacy and picked up her medication. She was supposed to receive medicine for diabetes. Unfortunately, she unknowingly received a blood thinner medication instead.
As a result of taking the wrong medication, Turnbull reported that she suffered swollen limbs, could barely walk and talk, and she was in severe pain. She was taken to the intensive care unit for care and recovery. She ended up spending four days in intensive care, two weeks in the hospital recovering, and months at home trying to recover from the physical injuries this medication error caused her.
The medication error occurred in Falls Church, Virginia, but Turnbull had to move to Illinois to live with her father because of the injuries she sustained.
Turnbull suffered a brain injury and is disabled now. She said, “I knew my pills were different, had a different shape. I should have questioned them. I did it once living in Chicago (and was told) we change manufacturers frequently to get the lowest cost. I thought it was the same thing.” She is stressing to others to:
- Check and recheck their medications
- Double check if pills are different in size, shape, or color
- Trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right
If you have been the victim of medication error, you have rights! Call the pharmacy error lawyers of Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. today at 888-526-7616.