What is a Pharmacist’s Duty of Care?

When you go to a pharmacy, you are counting on the pharmacy technicians and pharmacists to provide you with the correct prescription in a timely manner. Whether it’s a medication taken daily for the entirety of one’s life or a short-term round of antibiotics, it’s paramount that the prescription provided is accurate. Pharmacists are required to do their job correctly and promptly, but many people are not aware that pharmacists have a specific duty of care that must guide their daily work.

A pharmacist’s duty of care is at the core of all of their responsibilities and it is the thing that guides their decisions as they are working. Much like the duty of care that doctors have for their patients, the pharmacist’s duty of care is a requirement.

Is a Duty of Care a Legal Duty?

A pharmacist’s duty of care is a legal duty to fill lawfully requested prescriptions without delay. They are also required to fill these prescriptions correctly and to avoid errors that could lead to life-threatening injury to patients who come to them for their medications.

Because a pharmacist’s duty of care is a legal requirement for those who are working in this profession, many pharmacists take the requirements related to their duty of care seriously. However, there are times where the duty of care can be neglected, which can lead to harm to the patient.

What Are the Actions a Pharmacist Should Take While Doing Their Duty?

Pharmacists are required to act within their duty of care on a daily basis as they make decisions and take care of their patients. These are the common areas where the duty of care should be exercised:

Check Dosage

Dosage is impacted by several personal factors specific to that of the patient. Height, weight and age all determine the dosage prescribed by the doctor. Pharmacists will need to confirm this patient information for each and every patient when they are filling a prescription. This will help prevent errors in medication dispensing that could lead to patient harm.

Check for Existing Medications

If a patient is taking other medications, the pharmacist needs to confirm that those already being taken will not cause a reaction with the new prescription being requested. This is a critical step in eliminating the likelihood of drug interactions that could lead to serious harm for the patient.

Provide Counsel

Counsel must be given to patients who are picking up new medications. It should be offered even for medications that they have taken before. Patient counseling is particularly critical for medications that have specific instructions for use and if not followed correctly, may cause problems.

Correct Labels

The dosing information as shown on the medication label must be correct with any possible side effects also included. It is also important that the label clearly states the medication name in a manner that is legible to the patient.

Confirm the Medication is Correct

When dispensing medications, there should be care taken to make sure that the pills or powders in the prescription bottle to be given to the patient are correct. Many pills have an imprint; this is a series of numbers or letters on the pill itself used to identify the medication. Pharmacists should confirm the pills in the pill bottle are correct before handing it over to the patient.

What if You Have Been Harmed Through Pharmacist Negligence?

If you have been injured due to the negligence of your pharmacist, you should secure the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer. Having the right legal support can make the difference in getting the compensation that you deserve. When a pharmacist fails to provide the duty of care that is required to be delivered to each patient, serious injury and even death can occur.

Work With a Skilled Lawyer

A skilled personal injury lawyer will be able to help you get the support that you need for your pharmacy injury. They will conduct an investigation, collect testimony, and prepare a case to be delivered before a judge or during a settlement hearing. Getting the help that you need to defend yourself after a pharmacy error is often the difference between a successful settlement outcome and one that falls in favor of the pharmacy.