Over 40,000 cases Apotheker should have dosed too little cancer drugs

Pharmacists should have dosed too much cancer drugs
Surveys show that most Germans trust the pharmacy around the corner. But apparently also so-called "black sheep" are to be found here: A pharmacist in the Ruhr district is said to have sold numerous cancer patients to low-dose drugs. There are at least 40,000 cases.

Wrong drug dose can be dangerous
Health experts repeatedly point to dangerous mistakes in taking medication. For example, too low a dose of medication, such as antibiotics, can contribute to the development of resistance. Even more problematic is the lack of therapeutic effect due to a too low dose, especially if it involves serious illnesses such as cancer. But exactly this risk was possibly exposed to countless patients in North Rhine-Westphalia.

A pharmacist from North Rhine-Westphalia is suspected to have dosed too much cancer drugs too low. It is still unclear what health damage the manipulated infusions have done. (Image: dplett / fotolia.com)

Cancer drugs too low doses
A pharmacist in Bottrop (North Rhine-Westphalia) is suspected of having too much of a dose of anti-cancer drugs when mixed together. The 46-year-old has been in custody since the end of November.

The prosecutor of Essen writes in a press release: "He is accused since 2012 in at least 40,000 individual cases in the production of infusions for the so-called cancer immunotherapy, different from the medically each individually prescribed recipes, the infusions with too low a proportion of drugs prepared and disregarded the rules of hygiene. "

Breach of the drug law
According to the information, the pharmacist had to pay the full amount for the requested dosage with the health insurance companies. The financial loss is estimated at 2.5 million euros.

"Legally, the Essen Public Prosecutor's Office considers violations of the Medicines Act," the statement said.

Health damage still unclear
However, it is still unclear what health damage the accused has done. According to the news agency dpa, it is unlikely that the public prosecutor will find out which patients were affected by faulty infusions and what effects that might have had. The pharmacist is silent.

Silence of the pharmacist must not hinder victim protection
According to the agency, the German Foundation for Patient Protection reacted dismayed and urged the investigators to clarify as quickly as possible which patients have received stretched drugs.

"The silence of the pharmacist must not hinder the protection of the victim. After all, the data of the patients are known to the hospitals and medical practices, "said CEO Eugen Brysch.

Clinics and doctors are therefore called upon not only to assist the public prosecutor in the investigation, but also to contact the affected patients directly. In addition, the patient advocate demanded that the country's Ministry of Health set up a hotline for those affected. (Ad)