A Port Coquitlam woman is seeking damages in a lawsuit claiming she was dispensed the wrong drug at a major grocery store pharmacy.
Shannon Ward filed a lawsuit on Sept. 21 in B.C. Supreme Court claiming staff working at a Real Canadian Superstore pharmacy at 1301 Lougheed Hwy. in Coquitlam failed to fill her prescription properly, giving her a diuretic rather than the anti-depressant she was prescribed.
The claims have not yet been tested in court and Loblaws has 21 days to respond to the suit.
However, Ward alleges that she suffered injuries and symptoms, including Central Serous Chorio-Retinopathy, a serious eye condition.
She names in the suit Loblaws Inc., doing business as The Real Canadian Superstore, along with four employees, identified only as John Doe 1 and 2 and Jane Doe 1 and 2.
According to the suit, Ward contracted with Loblaws to fill a prescription for an anti-depressant in or about the spring or summer of 2022.
The prescription was reviewed or filled by one or more of the pharmacy staff; however, the wrong medication was provided, the lawsuit claims.
It states that employees failed to carefully read the prescription, and the label of the container from which the prescription was filled, didn't confirm the woman's identify and the prescription, failed to take appropriate training or put in place proper procedures.
Additionally, the suit alleges that pharmacists failed to supervise assistants properly, and allowed "incompetent, rushed, or inadequately trained staff to take part in dispensing medication."
When she became aware of the error, the woman asked for copies or records relating to the matter, but was refused, the lawsuit claims.
"This is outrageous, reckless, wanton, without care, deliberate, callous and disgraceful and they render Loblaws liable to pay punitive damages," the suit states.
The suit claims Loblaws was negligent in dispensing a diuretic instead of an anti-depressant, and cites a number of alleged failures including: hiring inadequately trained or incompetant staff, a lack of safeguards and policies for the safe dispensing of medication and failing to confirm that the correct medication was dispensed.
As well, it criticizes the company's staffing practices, suggesting that there were too few staff.
Employees had inadequate time to properly ensure that the prescription was reviewed with the patient, employ safety measures and didn't investigate and advise the plaintiff of the error "when they were or should have been aware of the error."
"Furthermore, the dispensing of medication to the plaintiff by Loblaws was made pursuant to a sale of contract for the sale of goods for consideration and the medication dispensed to the plaintiff was not of merchantable quality," the lawsuit states.
In pursuing the case in court, Ward seeks damages including general and punitive damages, special damages, costs, interests and other relief.
