Advertising, computers, and pharmacy liability. A Michigan court's decision has ramifications for pharmaceutical care
Cacciatore, G.G.
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association Ns36(11): 651-654
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1086-5802 PMID: 8952252 Document Number: 459821
Arbor Drugs, Inc., advertised that its computer could detect dangerous drug interactions. A pharmacist failed to warn a patient accordingly and the patient suffered a stroke as a result of an interaction between tranylcypromine and a decongestant. The Michigan Court of Appeals held that this failure to warn was actionable under the theories of negligence and fraud as well as under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The court's basic message is that pharmacies may be held legally responsible for preventing harm when they represent themselves as being capable of doing so.