CVS Issues Statement After Mother Given Wrong Prescription for Son
BOSSIER CITY, La. – Mother Alarms Public About Prescription Error
A mother from Bossier City is cautioning the general public about a potential catastrophe that may occur as a result of a blunder at a local pharmacy – her 13-year-old son was given the wrong prescription by mistake. CVS Pharmacy has since released a statement in response to the incident.
About the Incident
Tarah Thomas, the concerned mother, had her son’s prescriptions filled at a CVS Pharmacy on Barksdale Boulevard at Jimmie Davis. Only when it was time for the next dose did Thomas’ husband notice something unusual about the medications. The dosage directive on the prescription seemed more suitable to a tranquilizer than the cough suppressant and antibiotic they were expecting.
Upon checking the prescription details, it was discovered that the medications were meant for a completely different patient – a 30-year-old man with high blood pressure and depression. The two patients shared first names, last names, and even birth dates, but not addresses. A potentially grave mistake that could have serious consequences.
CVS Responds to the Grievance
In response to the grievance, CVS stated, “We apologized to Ms. Thomas when she notified us that her son received the wrong prescription. We encouraged her to consult her child’s provider before giving him any additional medications and are looking into how this happened to help prevent a similar error in the future. The health and well-being of our patients is our number one priority, and we have comprehensive policies and procedures in place to support prescription accuracy.”
What Happens Next?
After narrowly dodging a frightful mishap, Thomas’ immediate action was to report the matter to CVS’s corporate office and file a report with the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy. Throughout the incident, she remained cognizant of the pressure on the healthcare system, particularly pharmacies, citing possible understaffing as a cause for such errors.
The mother’s concern is now focused on CVS’s course of action: “If they know they are understaffed and they have staffing issues, will they change that or is it an acceptable risk for them?” she questioned.
Meanwhile, as the mother-son duo recover from the shock, Thomas emphasizes to other parents the importance of double-checking their child’s medication before administering it.