Potentially Tragic Prescription Mix-Up Exposes Pharmacy Fallibility

A pregnant woman in Colorado was mistakenly given methotrexate when she went to fill a prescription for antibiotics.  Commonly used to treat cancer, the drug is also used to terminate early term pregnancies.  The woman went home and took one dose of the medication and immediately starting feeling nauseous.  That’s when she looked at the bottle and discovered the mistake.
The Safeway pharmacy admitted the wrongdoing and has agreed to pay for any medical expenses associated with the mistake.  They’ve also initiated an internal investigation.  The mix-up stemmed from the pregnant woman sharing the last name and having a similar first name of another customer.  Doctors are closely monitoring the woman’s hormone levels.  They say the single dose of Methotrexate could result in a miscarriage or severe birth defects but are holding out hope that it caused no damage at all.
While this story reveals how a seemingly small act of medical negligence can have a devastating outcome, it should also serve as a reminder to be extra vigilant when it comes to filling prescriptions.  These mistakes are actually quite common.

Learn more about D’Amore Law Group’s medical negligence and prescription error practice areas.

The Personal Injury Law Update is a service of D’Amore Law Group

About the Author

Tom D'Amore is the founder of D'Amore Law Group and a trial attorney with over 30 years of experience representing injured people and their families across the West Coast, securing more than $325 million in recoveries. He handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, construction injuries, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, Tom is the only NBTA board-certified truck accident attorney in Oregon. He is a national Board of Governors member, past Executive Committee member, and past Budget and Audit Chair of the American Association for Justice, as well as past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice.