Pregnant Woman Takes Abortion Pill Due To Pharmacy Error

[FlyingTrue]

Seems like a simple enough mistake (very similar names on both prescriptions) but could have tragic consequences:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...44/detail.html

I'd hate to be the one responsible for inadvertently killing someone's child that way that's for sure.

[shimmeringfaerie]

Personally, I think it's dangerous to sell drugs that can terminate pregnancies over the counter. But that's more of an issue for the government or health department or whoever decides those things.

I think it's really good that the pharmacy came forward and admitted the mix-up without placing full blame on the pharmacist involved. Silva is not a common last name and if the first names were extremely similar as well, I can see how this would occur. It is a shame that this mix-up could have such a terrible consequence, but accidents do happen.

And I actually think that her response to the pharmacy's apology was just down-right rude. Obviously she is upset, but she should take some of the blame too. If I was taking a new prescription, I would definitely be checking that it was the right one, especially if I was pregnant.

[Nightblood.]

That's the thing. It wasn't an over the counter drug to terminate a pregnancy. That's how this happened. It was a prescription, that they gave to the wrong woman. I just don't see how this error could have been made if they followed all the normal procedures, without being careless. They should check birth date, address, etc. Every pharmacy I've ever been to has done so.

I honestly don't think she was wrong at all for her reaction. People trust pharmacies, they don't always check. And I know when I check, I don't look at my name. I look at the name of the drug and if she didn't know the name of the actual drug (instead of the common name that isn't on prescription bottles) and her doctor prescribed it KNOWING she was pregnant, I'm not sure it would occur to most people to check.

If I were her, and the baby ended up with any deformity, I'd demand the company pay any and all hospital/medical bills for the child for the rest of it's life. (unless it's obvious something else caused it like genetics)

[Pelios]

Lesson learned: Trust no one.

[MegaMadness]

Tragic, terrible mistake. Should of and could of easily been prevented.

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Originally Posted by MegaMadness

Tragic, terrible mistake. Should of and could of easily been prevented.

She could have also read the label on the pills before taking them. That is her fault, she is and was capable of that but didn't do so. Since she's pregnant, she should have been extra cautious. However, this doesn't excuse the pharmacist's mistake although the similar name mix-up is a bit understandable.

[Kitty.]

It's an awful accident, but I do agree that she should have read the label. I always read the labels if I need medicine.

[Thurineth]

You should read the labels of medicine....?

[Jesus Christ.]

No one is incapable of making a mistake and she should of read the label...
It's more the womans fault for taking it than the pharmacys fault for giving it to her.

[MegaMadness]

Originally Posted by WOW!USaidSomethingSmart!

She could have also read the label on the pills before taking them. That is her fault, she is and was capable of that but didn't do so. Since she's pregnant, she should have been extra cautious. However, this doesn't excuse the pharmacist's mistake although the similar name mix-up is a bit understandable.

I never said who's fault it was. I totally agree that she should of read the label. I read everything before I take it.

[Nightblood.]

Why is everyone putting this on the woman? It sounds like people are implying that they got what she deserved for not reading the label.

[Jesus Christ.]

Originally Posted by TranquilChaos

Why is everyone putting this on the woman? It sounds like people are implying that they got what she deserved for not reading the label.

So, is it not down to the woman at all?

[Kitty.]

Originally Posted by TranquilChaos

Why is everyone putting this on the woman? It sounds like people are implying that they got what she deserved for not reading the label.

The pharmacist should have checked more carefully; but the woman should also have checked the medicine.

[Jocelyn.]

Originally Posted by TranquilChaos

I just don't see how this error could have been made if they followed all the normal procedures, without being careless. They should check birth date, address, etc. Every pharmacy I've ever been to has done so.

I completely agree. Any pharmacy I've been to has made me give my name and birth date before they will give me the prescription to make sure I'm getting the right one. There really is no excuse for a mix up imo.

At the same time, I have to put some blame on the woman (although I still find the pharmacy mostly at fault). All of my prescriptions come with an information booklet describing what the drug does, risks and side effects. Also on the bottle it gives the name of the drug, my name and directions for taking it. I always read the information and never just start popping pills. Even if its something I've gotten prescribed more than once and am aware of directions and side effects.

I wonder what was prescribed to her tbh, because I assume the abortion pill would only be one or two pills. Anything I can think of that would be safe for her to take during pregnancy (depression meds, vitamins, nausea meds are a few I can think of) would comes in a bottle of more than a couple pills. That would have sent off red flags for me :/

[Nightblood.]

I'm not saying it isn't her fault at all. Just that it sounds like some of the people in here think it's entirely her fault and that she got what she deserved or something.
Personally, I don't read the book. If I do, I get freaked out at all the possible side effects that probably won't happen. I know we don't let my grandfather read them either (he won't take the medicine pretty much keeping him functional). And she should have read the directions, but she could have done that without seeing the name.

Perhaps she glanced at it, thought it was her name as the pharmacist did. And took it. Now. I'm not sure if it's safe for pregnant women or what circumstances it was used, but I know I've been on antibiotics with only a couple pills. It also depends on why she was taking an antibiotic. If she was sick, and wanted relief she probably wasn't thinking as clear as she could.

I still think, however, it is way more the pharmacy's fault.

[emma01]

I think its quite silly that you say its the womans fault completely...I mean yea she could have checked the package, but pharmacists can't afford to mess up like this. I am sure it was just a mistake, and I am not completely blaming the pharmacist, but really, that was a really really dangerous thing to do. What happened if the correct label was written on the wrong packet of pills...I know that wasn't the case this time, but you can't mess with drugs!

[Thurineth]

The label is on the box, not the leaflet. I'm sorry but I thought checking it had your name on it was common sense. Yes the pharmacy got it wrong, it was a simple mistake. I just think the woman was somewhat foolish also.

[Guile]

I always read the label before I take something, even if I took it earlier the day, even for super minor things like ibuprofin, or benadryl. I have an odd paranoia about people tampering with my medicine and my food, which is why if someone touches my food I refuse to east it, or drink out of a used cup. Is that a psychological issue? Paranoia of people trying to poison you?

[Jesus Christ.]

Just an added note, but aren't most prescriptions in massive letters on the front of the box? Regularly in a different colour? If she pays so little to what she's taking I don't think anyone can blame the doctor...

[MisplacedDreamer]

The pharmacist had an obligation to ensure he had the correct prescription. Healthcare employees are supposed to double check things. He should have checked the prescription against what he saw in the computer and not just hand it out. Chances are he checked the information with her verbally and then grabbed the prescription that he thought was hers without double checking it.

As for the woman checking it, chances are she wouldn't realize what it is unless she checked the information packet that went with it although there should have been a yellow warning sticker not to take if you are pregnant (it may be worded differently though.) Not to mention the pharmacy may fill generic only so then the name may have been different.

I have had pharmacies misspell my first name before.

[Nightblood.]

What is this box everyone is talking about? I've never received a BOX for a prescription

[Jesus Christ.]

Originally Posted by TranquilChaos

What is this box everyone is talking about? I've never received a BOX for a prescription

Your prescriptions come loose in a bag? O.o

[Nightblood.]

They come in a bottle? But the bottle doesn't have all that information on it. And it certainly isn't printed big.
The bottle comes in a bag like this http://www.pharmacyautomationsupplie...s/Ad-Bag-4.jpg

Or more recently, a mostly clear walgreens ziplock bag. in bottles like this:
http://www.thecampofthesaints.com/si...Bottle-300.jpg

[Marguerite]

Originally Posted by TranquilChaos

What is this box everyone is talking about? I've never received a BOX for a prescription

I've never, ever had a pescription of pills that didn't come in a box. Pretty much all of them do?

[LucyLouWho]

It is the pharmacy's job to get the prescriptions right. I would be pissed. I'm not saying that the woman was completely without responsibility in this... but let's face it... we all think that we should be able to trust medical professionals not to make such a huge mistake as that one. Yeah, yeah, they're only human... but this is an awful big mistake that could have been avoided had whoever was giving the prescription to her taken the time to check that it was correct.

[Nightblood.]

Originally Posted by Marguerite

I've never, ever had a pescription of pills that didn't come in a box. Pretty much all of them do?

I've never had a box unless it's liquid and a big bottle. I guess they do it differently in different countries?

[emma01]

Originally Posted by Marguerite

I've never, ever had a pescription of pills that didn't come in a box. Pretty much all of them do?

Um not here they don't. Mine just came in a bottle...put in a brown bag!

[Allons-y!]

I don't get a box. Here, they give you an orange bottle. It has a sticker on it with all the pertinent information. Sometimes they put it in a bag.

Also I don't think it's relevant The point is, prescriptions come with information. Obviously, both the woman and the pharmacy are to blame. You should always be mindful of what you're putting into your body, but that said, you shouldn't feel as though you always have to be completely on guard.

At the end of the day, all that's left to say is that it's tragic that both woman and pharmacy made such fatal mistakes.

[losing touch.]

terrible mistake. it's usually standard for the pharmacist to go over the label with you, explain directions, etc.. but obviously not in this case. the woman should have check before taking them though. taking medication without reading the label/instructions is a bit stupid.

The pharmacy fucked up. But you can't deny the woman was an idiot here too. She is pregnant! If there is an info booklet, she SHOULD read it to make sure her doctor didnt mess up. But even just check the name.I mean really, take some self responsibility and take these basic precautions, other people can fuck up, so if you are in a situation, like being pregnant, add in your own checks, to try ensure the safest possibility. It clearly wasn't that hard, the article pointed out that she worked out it was the wrong meds by checking the bottle after she felt ill.

Originally Posted by ball&chain

I wonder what was prescribed to her tbh, because I assume the abortion pill would only be one or two pills. Anything I can think of that would be safe for her to take during pregnancy (depression meds, vitamins, nausea meds are a few I can think of) would comes in a bottle of more than a couple pills. That would have sent off red flags for me :/

Did you read the article at all? No? "Silva said the pharmacist at the Ft. Lupton Safeway gave her the prescription of methotrexate. Methotrexate is used in chemotherapy regimens to treat cancer, but it is also used to terminate early-stage pregnancies."

[Jocelyn.]

Originally Posted by Invert

Did you read the article at all? No? "Silva said the pharmacist at the Ft. Lupton Safeway gave her the prescription of methotrexate. Methotrexate is used in chemotherapy regimens to treat cancer, but it is also used to terminate early-stage pregnancies."

I wasn't talking about what she was actually given... I was talking about what she was actually prescribed and was there to pick up. I was saying that the pills she was mistakenly given were probably only a pack of one or two pills and that most prescriptions consist of more than just a couple pills.... Like prenatal vitamins or depression pills, something of that nature come probably in a months supply. I really can't think of much else that would be safe for her to take. So the fact that the bottle she received was possibly a low count of pills should have tipped her off.

[Nightblood.]

She was picking up an antibiotic.

[Jocelyn.]

Oh ok you said that earlier but I must have missed it. I haven't had to take an antibiotic in awhile so maybe most do come in small packs now. I used to have to take multiple a day for a few days.

Originally Posted by ball&chain

I wasn't talking about what she was actually given... I was talking about what she was actually prescribed and was there to pick up. I was saying that the pills she was mistakenly given were probably only a pack of one or two pills and that most prescriptions consist of more than just a couple pills.... Like prenatal vitamins or depression pills, something of that nature come probably in a months supply. I really can't think of much else that would be safe for her to take. So the fact that the bottle she received was possibly a low count of pills should have tipped her off.

Seeing it was cancer medication, I doubt it only had a couple of pills in the bottle.

You take to be a like a weeks course of antibiotics, where you take them 3 times a day. Say the other meds were one a day meds, that you take over a longer period, it doesnt seem unlikely both would have a decent amount in.

She wasn't given a prescription for an abortion pill, she was given someone's cancer medication perscription, which happens to be able to terminate early pregnancies. So its unlikely that they only gave her a handful of pills, as cancer doesnt tend to go away over night.

[Nightblood.]

Originally Posted by Invert

Seeing it was cancer medication, I doubt it only had a couple of pills in the bottle.

You take to be a like a weeks course of antibiotics, where you take them 3 times a day. Say the other meds were one a day meds, that you take over a longer period, it doesnt seem unlikely both would have a decent amount in.

Or, like me, you can get antibiotics that you take for three days. There are ones you can take one day. One pill. That works for ten days. So even if it WERE just one or two pills, it's still possible her own prescription could have only had one or two pills

[Jocelyn.]

Originally Posted by Invert

Seeing it was cancer medication, I doubt it only had a couple of pills in the bottle.

You take to be a like a weeks course of antibiotics, where you take them 3 times a day. Say the other meds were one a day meds, that you take over a longer period, it doesnt seem unlikely both would have a decent amount in.

She wasn't given a prescription for an abortion pill, she was given someone's cancer medication perscription, which happens to be able to terminate early pregnancies. So its unlikely that they only gave her a handful of pills, as cancer doesnt tend to go away over night.

Honestly, you could have said that without attempting to make me look like an idiot by questioning whether or not I read the article. I did read the article and I did see the information you quoted. For some reason I wasn't putting two and two together, and in my mind the person who was supposed to receive the methotrexate was going to use it as an abortion pill and the fact that it was also use in cancer patients was just extra useless information. Honest mistake. So, thanks I guess, for explaining that. It makes sense now.

[Doodle.]

I think it's both their faults. They both should have checked the pills :/ I always read the labels in a box of tablets (even for over the counter pain killers) :| I'm not even pregnant.

[her_beautiful_mistake]

Originally Posted by Mommy.Wife.Student

It is the pharmacy's job to get the prescriptions right. I would be pissed. I'm not saying that the woman was completely without responsibility in this... but let's face it... we all think that we should be able to trust medical professionals not to make such a huge mistake as that one. Yeah, yeah, they're only human... but this is an awful big mistake that could have been avoided had whoever was giving the prescription to her taken the time to check that it was correct.

I agree, it is the pharmacist to blame here.

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

The pharmacist isn't solely to blame here. Although they probably know more about the medications, arrange them for each person and we assume they did it correctly, the woman is responsible for verifying it herself. Most pregnant women are hyper-vigilant over what medications they take. Since she didn't read the label and got affected, she shares half the blame because she is responsible for what she consumes. The pharmacist did not have her take the medications, the pregnant lady knowingly took the medications carelessly without reading the container. She's the line of defense over what goes into her body but she put that line of defense down, that's her fault and her fault only, not the pharmacist's. The pharmacist is a line of defense also but is secondary.

What if there were specific foods not to take with the medication or had to take the medication with only certain foods? Ignoring any unlikeliness of this, it could have been necessary for the medications yet her carelessness would have led her to taking them improperly, even if this applied to the medications she was supposed to receive.

Originally Posted by ball&chain

Honestly, you could have said that without attempting to make me look like an idiot by questioning whether or not I read the article.

If someone is rather clueless on something, usually it means they haven't read the information provided. That doesn't make you an idiot. Alternatively, if someone is clueless it could be because they did read the article but couldn't figure it out. That would make you an idiot. The fact you were asked the former has no implication of you being an idiot, so it's a nicer way of how you were answered by Invert despite you admitting you couldn't understand the article anyway.

[BasicFacts]

Haha, stupid woman.
I can't believe she was pregnant and didn't read the damn label.