Key takeaways:
Madden & Associates, P.C., a Decatur personal injury law firm, secured a $2.5 million settlement for a woman who suffered permanent, irreversible vision loss after a pharmacy filled her tapering prednisone prescription at ten times the prescribed dose. The case centered on a preventable medication error that the pharmacy initially denied, then later admitted. Below, we explain what happened, how errors like this occur, and what Georgia patients can do if a pharmacy gets their prescription wrong.
The pharmacy dispensed 50 mg prednisone tablets instead of the 5 mg tablets her physician prescribed. Her doctor had ordered a tapering course, meaning the dose was designed to decrease gradually over time. Instead, our client took ten times the intended amount for nearly the entire course before her physician discovered the error.
When the error first came to light, the pharmacy insisted the prescription had been filled correctly. Only later did it admit the mistake, a reversal that became central to our case for full accountability rather than a quick settlement.
“This wasn’t a case where our client would get better with time,” said Terance Madden, a Decatur personal injury attorney and founder of T. Madden & Associates, P.C. “She lost part of her vision permanently because of a mistake that should never have happened and then had to fight surgery after surgery just to hold onto what was left. Every client in a case like this deserves a full recovery, not a quick one, and we don’t settle for less.”
Yes, prednisone is a corticosteroid, and MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, lists eye problems among the medication’s possible side effects, including glaucoma and cataracts. The risk rises with higher doses, which is why a strength error can be so dangerous.
Our client had no prior history of eye problems. The overdose caused complete, irreversible loss of her peripheral vision and a permanent 40 percent loss of her eyesight overall. She underwent multiple eye surgeries within a single year and suffered additional injuries from falls caused by her diminished vision. She lost the ability to drive, read a menu, and manage everyday tasks without assistance.
Most pharmacy dosing errors happen when a prescription is filled at the wrong strength, swapped for a similar-sounding drug, or labeled with incorrect directions. Prednisone is especially vulnerable to strength errors because it is sold in tablets ranging from 1 mg to 50 mg and is often prescribed on a tapering schedule.
High prescription volumes, staffing pressures, and constant interruptions make it easier for mistakes to slip through. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices maintains a List of Confused Drug Names because so many medications look or sound alike. A misplaced decimal point or a misread prescription can turn a 5 mg dose into 50 mg. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality explains how these medication errors and adverse drug events remain a leading patient safety concern across the health care system.
Check every prescription before you take it. We recommend these steps at every pickup:
Contact your physician immediately and do not adjust the dose on your own. Then take these steps to protect your health and your rights:
Both the pharmacist and the pharmacy’s corporate employer can be held liable for a dispensing error. In this case, T. Madden & Associates, P.C. sued the individual pharmacist and the pharmacy’s employer for negligent training, hiring, and retention. Georgia law requires these professional negligence claims to be supported by an expert affidavit, and an expert pharmacist established the applicable standard of care and how the dispensing error breached it.
“Corporations and the employees they put behind the counter have a responsibility to the public, and when that responsibility is ignored, accountability has to include the company, not just the individual who made the error,” Attorney Madden said. “We don’t let insurers minimize what a catastrophic, life-altering injury actually costs someone.”
Victims of pharmacy negligence may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, future treatment and care, lost income and earning capacity, and pain and suffering. When an injury is permanent, as it was for our client, a full recovery must also account for lost independence and the long-term cost of living with a disability. Detailed medical documentation is essential to show the full impact of an injury over a lifetime.
In most cases, Georgia gives injured people two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, though some deadlines can be shorter depending on the circumstances. Because evidence and witness memories fade, it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after discovering a pharmacy error.
Yes. If a pharmacy’s mistake caused you harm, you may have a claim against both the pharmacist and the company that employs them.
Common pharmacy errors include dispensing the wrong medication, the wrong strength, or a label with incorrect directions.
Generally, yes. Georgia requires an expert affidavit to support professional negligence claims, and expert testimony is often needed to establish the standard of care.
A pharmacy’s mistake should never cost you your health, your independence, or your livelihood. For nearly 25 years, T. Madden & Associates, P.C. has represented Georgia families in pharmacy error, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases. As this case shows, we pursue both the individuals and the companies responsible, and we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial.
If you or a loved one was harmed by a pharmacy error, don’t wait. Georgia’s filing deadlines are strict. Call (833) PAID-123 or contact us online for a free consultation. We serve clients statewide from offices in Atlanta, Decatur, Jonesboro, Macon, and Augusta.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different, and results depend on the specific facts and law involved.
T. Madden & Associates, P.C has an answer for all of your legal questions! We are a Personal Injury firm, so we handle many types of injury cases from auto collisions to wrongful death! If you or someone you know is injured, T. Madden & Associates, P.C. can help.
We are proud to offer free case reviews to anyone who may have questions before getting started. Additionally, if we do take on your case, we promise we won’t charge you a penny unless we recover compensation for your claim.
Please contact our Atlanta attorneys online or by calling 833-PAID-123 to get started today.
