What to do about a pharmacy’s negligence?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What to do about a pharmacy’s negligence?

My son was given a prescription for antibiotic the pharmacy gave the prescription to me without reconstituting it, which is their policy/practice. If I had given the medication to him as I received it, it could have cause permanently damaged his digestive system. That’s what a few licensed pharmacist explained to me. Can I sue the pharmacy? I did not give the meds to him, his father would have.

Asked on August 31, 2012 under Malpractice Law, Florida

Answers:

Catherine Blackburn / Blackburn Law Firm

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

Fortunately for your son, you did not give the medicine to him.  Unfortunately for his case, there is no case.  To sue a pharmacy (or anyone else) for negligence, you have to show they had a duty (no problem - pharmacies have a duty to fill prescriptions properly), they breached the duty (also no problem), someone was injured (you don't have this element), and the breach of duty caused the injury (you also lack this element).

This is a common misunderstanding about negligence lawsuits - spread by the anti-lawsuit people.  If no one is injured, there is no lawsuit for malpractice or negligence.  In reality, people recover money for genuine injuries.  Because of the expense and complications involved with lawsuits, injured people often recover less than they should.  Don't believe the anti-lawsuit propaganda.  In 30 years of practicing in Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida, I have never seen anyone get money for nothing.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption