Prescription label mix-up: Racism or a mistake?

Prescription label mix-up: Racism or a mistake?

http://fox11online.com/news/nation-world/prescription-label-mix-up-racism-or-a-mistake

FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) – Is it a case of racism or a simple mistake?A Laotian family from Fresno wants an apology.Family members claim a CVS Health Pharmacy technician changed their real address on a prescription bottle to an address on China Avenue.The family believes it was jab at them.The family says they argued with the pharmacy technician about whether the hospital faxed over the prescription paperwork.

Linda Phommaseng says, “He said, ‘No, they gave you guys a hard copy prescription and you guys need to bring that in.’ I said, ‘No, they didn’t. They told us to come on down and just pick it up and they are faxing it over.’ He just seemed a little mad and angry. He finally made the call to Community Hospital. They told him they would send it over as soon as the doctor signed it. He asked for my husband’s ID. He then entered it in the computer and said it could take a few hours.”

The next day, Phommaseng says she picked up the pain pills.

A few days later, she was about to throw the receipt away when she saw her street address on the prescription had been changed to China Avenue.

She call the store to get some answers.

Phommaseng says, “The same guy picked up the phone. I asked if the patient’s address is on the prescription when it’s being sent over. So, he just asked for our date of birth. I gave it to him and I just told him as he was looking it up that this is pretty racist. He said, ‘How is this racist?’ I said, ‘Our street address–that is not the correct street address.’ He said, ‘Oh, would you like to update it to Turner Avenue?’ I said, ‘That is pretty racist, I didn’t even give you my street address. How did you know that was the correct one?'”

She says the technician just stayed quiet and then she hung up.

KMPH Fox 26 News Investigative Reporter Erik Rosales contacted the CVS Health Corporate office.

A CVS Health spokesman sent KMPH Fox 26 News the following statement:

These allegations are not in keeping with our company’s values and commitment to serving our customers. CVS/pharmacy has firm nondiscrimination policies that are rigorously enforced throughout the company and we are strongly committed to creating an environment that fosters diversity across all areas of our business. We do not tolerate any practices that discriminate against any of our customers or employees and we are actively investigating this matter.

 

2 Responses

  1. So many problems with CVS. When I was on my way from MN to FL last year I had so many problems with CVS that I have since refused to use them except for one Rx I get there because of the cost. That is the ONLY reason I go there; all of my other scripts are with an independent pharmacy. So sorry this happened to this family. CVS must have some real dandy employees!

  2. I didn’t think pain pill prescriptions could be faxed anymore?
    The statements in this story don’t even mention a that the pharmacist said anything that could be identified as being racism. But couldn’t a person who is falsely claiming racism be considered a racist themselves? What it sounds like to me is that this lady came into the pharmacy with an attitude and the pharmacist attempted to handle the situation without confrontation but this lady jumped on the race train and wouldn’t get off. I’ve been in that situation before myself and when you have an irate customer across the counter acting out their anger, you get them out of your store asap. Mistakes get made when you are rushed.
    The fact about this article is, if this truly was pain medication, how could there prescription be filled without the hard copy. It sounds like this pharmacist was bullied into breaking the law by being accused of something that he or she didn’t do. Just maybe FOX 26 news should look into that.

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