Calgary Dad Suing Shoppers Drug Mart

[undercoverbrother]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/12/18...cription-death

The father of a Calgary woman who died after taking anti-acne medication is suing Shoppers Drug Mart for not adequately warning of the drug’s dangers.
Bruce McKenzie is seeking damages of $85,000 under the Fatal Accidents Act after his daughter, Marit, died Jan. 28 after taking Diane-35 for 15 months.
His statement of claim, filed in Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench, alleges the drug store chain repeatedly filled Marit’s prescriptions without warning the drug could be fatal.
Marit, 18, was rushed to hospital Jan. 26 and in the next two days suffered four cardiac arrests, a pulmonary embolism and a brain hemorrhage.
She was declared dead on Jan. 28.

This is sad.

Is this the type of drug that pharmacists can renew on their own?

[cammy13]

That is a birth control pill

[OutOfTheCube]

Is it really the pharmacy's job to communicate potential side effects?

Yeah it stinks but it seems like this possible effect is well-known. It would obviously be on the label and was likely advised to her by her doctor who prescribed it. At what point is it the consumer's fault? I guess that's what the lawsuit will discover.

[burn_this_city]

I wonder why Health Canada approved that drug when it appears the FDA didn't.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Is it really the pharmacy's job to communicate potential side effects?

Yeah it stinks but it seems like this possible effect is well-known. It would obviously be on the label and was likely advised to her by her doctor who prescribed it. At what point is it the consumer's fault? I guess that's what the lawsuit will discover.

I can't say that it is their legal responsibility, because I'm not sure... but at my pharmacy (Calgary Co-op), the pharmacist always takes time to explain to me all of the risks, complications, etc when I pick up a medication.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Is it really the pharmacy's job to communicate potential side effects?

Yeah it stinks but it seems like this possible effect is well-known. It would obviously be on the label and was likely advised to her by her doctor who prescribed it. At what point is it the consumer's fault? I guess that's what the lawsuit will discover.

I believe, and I know there are posters on here that can speak to this better than I, it is the legal responsibility of a pharmacist to explain the potential side effects.

I think Street Pharmacists has posted before that he has seen times when a prescription was incorrect. This leads me to beleive they don't blindly fill the 'script, they "analyze" it. Should he/she has known the term of the prescription was too long........

No doubt the AMA will get an invite to the party as well.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by cammy13

That is a birth control pill

It's very common for birth control pills to be prescribed as acne treatment.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...acne-treatment

[Barnes]

It's also common that birth control causes heart problems, strokes etc.

Well maybe not common but are listed as risks to taking it.

[CaptainYooh]

The girl's face looks remarkably similar to Bruce McKenzie, one of the Principals at NORR Architectrs, a well-known Calgary architect and a great guy. I am 100% sure it's him. What a horrible tragedy!

[Flabbibulin]

Never heard of this specific medication, but I got Accutane from Shopper's for probably over a year when I was around 20. I can't recall my highest daily dose, but I think it was around 120-160mg a day. Shopper's never said a word to me I'm sure, but went in for monthly blood tests and check up with my doc.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Is it really the pharmacy's job to communicate potential side effects?

Yeah it stinks but it seems like this possible effect is well-known. It would obviously be on the label and was likely advised to her by her doctor who prescribed it. At what point is it the consumer's fault? I guess that's what the lawsuit will discover.

pretty sure that is the job of the pharmacist, they don't let just anyone run things back there. Its a very well paid profession aswell

[Raekwon]

Medications also come with plenty of information on the drugs you are getting. This is just a devistated father looking for someone to blame.

Edit: They are suing for a suprisingly low amount. I could see Shoppers just paying this to avoid the bad press and legal fees.

Edit Edit: Turns out that low amount is actually the maximum amount. good to know.

[Brannigans Law]

Pretty sure a big part of the reason pharmacists are paid as they are is to ensure this kind of thing doesn't happen by giving out good information and ensuring their customers are informed.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

Never heard of this specific medication, but I got Accutane from Shopper's for probably over a year when I was around 20. I can't recall my highest daily dose, but I think it was around 120-160mg a day. Shopper's never said a word to me I'm sure, but went in for monthly blood tests and check up with my doc.

I don't think the article says what it was, but I would be willing to bet that it was Accutane. I know my doctor was pretty serious about prescribing the stuff - she wanted to make sure every single other medication was tried before she even considered it. Then read the entire 7 page booklet to me that came with the medication that described the side effects.

Can't remember if the pharmacy did the same.

Eventually I got daily nose bleeds from it after a month and a half of taking it. Then I stopped.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I don't think the article says what it was, but I would be willing to bet that it was Accutane. I know my doctor was pretty serious about prescribing the stuff - she wanted to make sure every single other medication was tried before she even considered it. Then read the entire 7 page booklet to me that came with the medication that described the side effects.

Can't remember if the pharmacy did the same.

Eventually I got daily nose bleeds from it after a month and a half of taking it. Then I stopped.

I recall having very dry skin, which is common for everyone- the next biggest thing for me was having a red face all the time and sweating like crazy.

Acne is a living nightmare when you're that age. Most teens and young adults would probably still want to do it regardless of the possible consequences.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

Medications also come with plenty of information on the drugs you are getting. This is just a devistated father looking for someone to blame.

Edit: They are suing for a suprisingly low amount. I could see Shoppers just paying this to avoid the bad press and legal fees.

Edit Edit: Turns out that low amount is actually the maximum amount. good to know.

Walked yourself through that one pretty efficently, didnt ya?

[Peanut]

That's a sad story. There's a few different birth control pills I've heard about scary side effects from. Something to do with the fake estrogen I thought.

[rain_e]

[QUOTE=OutOfTheCube;4537855]Is it really the pharmacy's job to communicate potential side effects?
QUOTE]

I hope they have more responsibility than counting the number of pills that go in each bottle.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Brannigans Law

Pretty sure a big part of the reason pharmacists are paid as they are is to ensure this kind of thing doesn't happen by giving out good information and ensuring their customers are informed.

I have no knowledge of the girl's case, but Pharmacists arn't there to prevent side effects (which is impossible), their job is to ensure the patient is getting the right dose, and won't interact with other drugs/medical issues (a big part of their job). Being a guru who can predict whom will have side effects is not their job.

[rain_e]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I have no knowledge of the girl's case, but Pharmacists arn't there to prevent side effects (which is impossible), their job is to ensure the patient is getting the right dose, and won't interact with other drugs/medical issues (a big part of their job). Being a guru who can predict whom will have side effects is not their job.

Understood that they cannot predict side effects however shouldn't they warn of possible side effects? Similar to drug commercials when they ramble of 30 different side effects in 3 seconds?