Menu
NEWS / PHARMACIST CORNER

Nine-Year-Old Given Methadone Instead Of Trimethoprim

In Nottingham a nine-year-old girl was rushed to the Emergency Unit after the pharmacist mistakenly supplied Methadone against a Trimethoprim prescription.

Nine-year-old Ruby was prescribed Trimethoprim for a urine infection which her Mother presented to the pharmacist at Manor Pharmacy Meadows on Tuesday.
The pharmacist supplied what was believed to be antibiotics to the mother providing instructions to administer TWO 5ml spoonfuls morning and night. After the first dose, Ruby felt very sleepy and tired. It was very obvious to the family that Ruby was not her usual self.

 

Later that day, the Pharmacist showed up at Ruby’s house to ask for the medication back and did not alarm the parents of the incident; even after the mother informed him she had administered the first dose to Ruby.

Ruby’s condition kept deteriorating.
Miss Buckley (Ruby’s Mum) decided to go back to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist what is wrong with Ruby. The pharmacist closed the shop and followed Ruby’s mum back to examine Ruby; who was now feeling warm. The Pharmacist finally admitted he accidentally supplied Methadone a controlled drug used in Heroine addiction in place of Trimethoprim an antibiotic commonly used in urine infection. Ruby was rushed to the Emergency Unit by her family.

 

Ruby has since then made a full recovery, and a full investigation is being carried out by NHS England and General Pharmaceutical Council.

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 0 Average: 0]

8 Comments

  • Anonymous
    February 11, 2017 at 09:17

    I’m sorry , the pharmacist failed at all levels. Not everyone is born to be a pharmacist. He/She should be stuck off asap. I rather face investigation for my acknowledged mistake than live with the death of a child over my shoulders. I’m livid.

    Reply
    • A fellow pharmacist
      February 11, 2017 at 22:51

      I’m sure the pharmacist is already paying for the error in terms of the guilt he must be feeling! Getting struck off the register isn’t necessarily the answer.

      Reply
      • Anonymous
        February 13, 2017 at 00:15

        I don’t see a pharmacist crippled with guilt, I see one who is trying to cover his back!

        Reply
    • Anonymous
      February 13, 2017 at 00:11

      The pharmacist should definitely be struck off as (if it did happen as described by the mother) the he was not thinking of the wellbeing of the little girl but concerned about keeping his licence to practice!

      Reply
  • A fellow pharmacist
    February 11, 2017 at 22:53

    However the pharmacist should have admitted the error at the soonest possible opportunity. Unacceptable that he didn’t.

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    February 13, 2017 at 08:44

    Human errors do happen and would continue to happen. This is not a deliberate act. Pharmacist should have admitted mistake and apologised to the family at the time error was noted.
    One needs to find out how this error was made and to learn how to prevent such incident in the future. I don’t think he or she should be punished in a way that his license to practice is taken away affecting his livelihood and thereby affecting his family.

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    February 13, 2017 at 13:53

    Yes, errors do happen and will continue to happen. The critical issue here, is he/she tried to cover up the mistake that could have led to manslaughter. Errors can be rectified but a life lost can never be regained. He/She failed to care for the patient and in this case a child. Sorry, he/she should choose to practice a different profession.

    Reply
  • Agobegoy
    August 29, 2017 at 19:21

    domperidone side effects while breastfeeding chinakari39-domperidone list of banned cough syrup in india

    Reply

Leave a Reply