According to an article by Reuters, John Figueroa, CEO of Omnicare, a company that provides prescription drugs to hospitals and nursing homes, has resigned a month after the company was forced to pay a $50,000 settlement for allegedly distributing drugs to nursing home patients without a signed prescription, without all of the prescription information, and not documenting prescriptions.
The company settled the case with the U.S. Department of Justice for $50,000 on May 11, 2012. The settlement was made out of court so the company didn’t officially have to face the allegations of improper prescription distribution.
No injuries or illnesses were reported in nursing home patients who received the improperly marked or non-prescribed narcotics, but this does not negate the seriousness of this case. A mislabeled drug or an improperly prescribed drug can cause sickness, permanent disability, or even death in a patient. This is a big problem in nursing homes, since patients are already unable to care for themselves and may not notice or be able to communicate if something has gone wrong with their medication.
A mistake with a prescription narcotic is just one of many things that could threaten a resident of a nursing home in Kentucky. If you or a loved one have been injured due to the negligence of a care or medication provider, you may be able to receive compensation for your suffering. Contact a Louisville attorney at the Law Offices of Gray & White for a free consultation. Call us today at 1-888-450-4456.