Pharmacy Error Led to Death of Father
A 75 year-old married father of three died as a result of human error and defects in hospital procedures after being given a lethal dose of the wrong chemotherapy drug. It may be argued that Alexander Cusker was late in years and did not have as much of a financial impact on society as a senior, thus his death was not as much of a loss as someone who was gainfully employed and supporting a family, but that would be woefully disingenuous to his family. The fact remains that because of a pharmacy technician’s error a family has lost a loved one who doctors believed could have lived at least two years longer. An awful lot could have been accomplished in two years. The sheriff investigating the case concluded, “The undisputed evidence led at this inquiry has highlighted defects in the standard operating procedure, which did not prevent the release from the unit of not only the wrong chemotherape utic drug for Mr Cusker but also did not prevent him receiving about five times the appropriate dosage of that wrong drug." He further added, “I sincerely hope that this inquiry has served to give him and his family a clear picture as to how it came to be that a dearly loved husband and father received an overdose of the wrong chemotherapeutic drug”
