Cold And Uncaring
PHARMACY | WORKING | SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
(Our pharmacy has recently switched to a new manufacturer of Lorazepam, which requires refrigeration. I overhear a conversation between a patient’s caregiver, and the pharmacist.)
Caregiver: “So I was told this stuff has to be kept cold? Is it still good if it wasn’t?”
Pharmacist: “No, you’re going to have to get it replaced. If it’s been left in room temperature for more than a few hours, I cannot recommend you giving it to your patient.”
Caregiver: “Well nobody told me it had to be kept cold! I want a free replacement.”
Pharmacist: “We put ‘REFRIGERATE’ on every label; don’t you read your patient’s labels?”
Caregiver: “I don’t have time to read all the labels.”
Pharmacist: “Then how do you know you’re giving the drugs properly to the patient?”
Caregiver: “…”
Pharmacist: “That’ll be $30 for a new bottle.”
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