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Mar 3, 2008 9:00 pm US/Eastern
Infant Misdiagnosed At Northeast Phila. Rite Aid
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Shayne Coleman is now a happy 15-month-old despite a pharmacy's mistake two months ago leaving her mother terrified.
CBS
A Northeast Philadelphia pharmacy may have to re-examine how it dispenses prescriptions after a serious medicine mix-up. A baby was given 15-times the dosage she was supposed to take.
Shayne Coleman is now a happy 15-month-old, happy and unharmed, despite a pharmacy's mistake two months ago leaving her mother terrified.
"She kept vomiting and having diarrhea," said Samantha Coleman.
Shayne has an immune deficiency disorder and her faulty prescription read three tablespoons three times a day. The appropriate dose was supposed to be measured in millimeters.
"This was her last medication we were going to try. Hopefully it was going to work. It was for Omnicef, they gave her the wrong dosage," said Samantha.
"Three ML's was the correct dose and she was given 15-times the amount of medication that she was supposed to receive," Samantha said.
The Coleman family's Rite Aid is located at Red Lion and Academy in the Northeast. Rite Aid's corporate representative said the case is under investigation.
Rite Aid's statement reads in part:
"Neither the Coleman family nor its attorney have responded to Rite Aid's request for details about what happened. The Operations Pharmacy Team retrained the local staff in its seven point procedure to ensure error free dispensing."
Samantha Coleman said the pharmacist never apologized.
"He said 'yeah, we made a mistake, come in and we'll give the bottle with the right dosage. I don't know what you want me to do,'" said Samantha.
The Coleman's intend to pursue legal action.
According to pharmacy experts, customers should know exactly what and how much your doctor is prescribing. Customers should also talk to their pharmacist to make sure the medicine and the dosage match up.
Extra care needs to be given to children under two who are prescribed medication.
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