When Your Meds Say You're Crazy

You probably are. That wouldn't excuse any unprofessional note taking. Or whatever happened to cause the text referenced below to appear. But the longer example does present some suggestions for dealing with this particular customer.

For years, Janey Karp has battled depression and anxiety with the help of prescription drugs. Though millions of Americans do the same, Karp admits she is intensely private and can't help but feel stigmatized for needing medication to feel normal.

So when the 53-year-old Palm Beach resident read the Walgreens printout attached to her prescription last week for the sleep aid Ambien, she couldn't believe her eyes. Typed in a field reserved for patient information and dated March 17, 2005, was "CrAzY!!" In another field, dated Sept. 30, 2004, it read: "She's really a psycho!!! Do not say her name too loud, never mention her meds by names & try to talk to her when ... " The information continued onto another page but was not attached.

Comments

[afmomx3]

ok, then!
who's the next best attorney in line besides
J.Tacopina???
What a law suit !!!

[danascully]

How awful. I feel so sorry for this woman. I say sue Walgreens.

[Sincerely]

All the message was ment to do was warn Walgreen workers of the kind of behavior the woman must have shown in the store, I would venture at least on more than a few occassions. I don't feel sorry for her. Maybe she needs a change in medication if she is so paranoid.

[JKP]

She obviously behaves erractically but there is no reason to be demeaned in that way. No, she should not sue. The world is too damn "sue-happy" if you ask me. Bring it out in the open so people know about it and ask for a public apology. Walk away with a little dignity. What's suing them going to do. She says she is intensely private??? Well that's a crock of BS, she sure has national attention now. I say she is CraZy. Now she can sue me.

[Nottryingtobemean]

Maybe she should re evaluate her own behaviour. I for one am really tired of erratic, rude, irrational people blaming their behaviour on others. Also, always trying to take a pill to make you act right. How about accepting responsibility for your own actions. Some people are really depressed I agree, but I do not believe so many people need to be medicated. Heck i know two in my own life who could get off the meds if they would take responsibility for themselves and get a full time job with purpose.
However, Walgreens, should not have stated the remarks without tact and the remarks are unprofessional. And should never have allowed the customer see it. But that doesn't IMO justify a law suit. If this woman is so private why is she now telling eveyone about it? If she had just read it cried and kept quite no one else would know?

[misosorry]

Look at the age demographic. Based on past experience, I'd say that she's going thru "The Change"...... Paranoia, anxiety, insecurity, self doubt, low self esteem - all symptoms of a hormonal imbalance. You'd be surprised how many wacky ways it can affect a woman during this period of life. More women need to speak out about this subject.

I feel bad that she is embarassed to be exposed as a normal woman who needs some help right now. The use of anti-depressants in combination with low level birth control pills is used in lieu of HRT by many. It really helped me and I'd already tired every homeopathic remedy known, to no avail, but didn't want to risk cancer with full hormone replacement therapy.

Take your meds with pride sister. You're doing the world a public service..... trust me, lol. Crazy? Eh, probably..... who cares. Aren't we all, sometimes?

[Isanah]

This is a valid reason to sue, Walmart should be held responsible for allowing such inappropriate comments to made upon a customers medical prescription record. I work in the medical profession and no one deserves to be labeled in such an offensive manner concerning their medical condition. Any comments about this woman should have been made in an informative considerate manner to ensure that her requests for privacy were upheld. Yes, there are many people that sue for ridiculous manners, but this is not one of them! If these comments were inappropriately written about this woman, it is very relevant that Walmart has a huge problem that needs to be properly addressed! Who knows what other negative comments are being placed about other people in Walmarts records, this is an outrage that should concern anyone that has prescriptions filled at any Walmart or any other location. Having a prescription filled by professionals should not be folly for the clerks that assist with the purchase of these medications.

[Isanah]

However, Walgreens, should not have stated the remarks without tact and the remarks are unprofessional. And should never have allowed the customer see it. But that doesn't IMO justify a law suit. If this woman is so private why is she now telling eveyone about it? If she had just read it cried and kept quite no one else would know?

Posted by: Nottryingtobemean | Thursday, March 09, 2006 at 11:21 AM

"Should never allow the customer to see it?" This is what you concluded from this situation? How about the fact that hundreds of Walmart employees around the country see these remarks? This woman should have just "cried and kept quiet and no one else would know"? You should be ashamed of yourself to believe that someone should have sit back and have their rights violated in such a way without making this issue known to the public. Everyone should be appreciative of the stance that this woman has made to alert others that medical prescription records have been treated with such disregard to stoop as low as calling people derogative terms when they only desired to have their prescriptions filled and their privacy protected! It seems you may be clueless about treatment of mental conditions, you have based your bias and drew your conclusions based upon a select bunch of people you know. Your thoughts about these people and some others may be legitmate however that is not the issue that is being addressed through this woman's situation. Even some "crazy" people have civil rights and can often see clearly when their rights have been violated. BTW, she should have no problem winning this case and will also have the satisfaction of knowing she has alerted the rest of us about this outrageous practice that Walmart has committed upon a customer. This is the kind of law suit that goes beyond monetary awards, it will educate the public about their rights concerning their medical condition and the right to privacy from those providing the service dispensing prescriptions. Unfortunately to effect change is our society there usually has to be a law suit that effects those involved companies to ensure that the situation is properly addressed. Does anyone believe if this woman simply made her situation known in words only to the company and/or the public that Walmart would have taken any complete proper action as to how their records were handled? Apparently her previous concerns and words about her privacy issues weren't addressed but through derogative remarks on her prescription records!

[NDC]

Was it insensitive/stupid of Wal-Mart to write unprofessional patient notes and then let it get out in the open? Absolutely.
Are these notes necessary at all to ensure good customer service? Maybe. As someone who has dealt with the public for nearly 30 years, a heads-up from someone who's dealt with a difficult individual before can be extremely helpful. Particularly those with a history of irrational or violent behavior.
Can she sue? Sure.
Should she sue? No. These comments were read only by her and the pharmacy staff. She's the one that let the whole world in on the situation. Now, we all know she's nuts.

So,what were her damages? Her itty bitty feelings were hurt? Pull up your big girl panties and get over it. It's a cruel world out there. Think these comments are on everyone's file who obtains antidepressants? Doubt it. My guess is she brow beat these poor employees with verbal abuse, leading to these notations. The pharmacy manager was probably too accommodating to ask her to take her prescription and her venom some place else. Don't want people to think you're crazy? Act sane.

[dontmeantobemean]

Isanah
My opinion is just that. Just because your opinion differs from mine does not mean I do not know what I am talking about. Believe me, I do know. Yes the remarks by Walgreen's were insensitive. My thing is maybe this person should ask herself,"What did I do to get these type remarks put in my file?" and how many times did she act CRAZY at the Walgreen's? If you act crazy don't blame everyone else for thinking you are crazy and then try and protect otjers from your wrath. Sounds like she had more that one statement in her file. As much mental illness as I have dealt with I doubt you can tell me anything. But alot of people out there just want an easy fix. I don't know this woman, so I don't know if she is mentally ill or not. Just cut the crap about being private when you are the one who put it out there to the world.
And I agree with NDC sometimes we ALL get our feelings hurt. Sometimes you just need to SUCK IT UP! Especially if your own bad behaviuor caused it.
This was tacky but is no reason to sue. IMO
Heck if we all sued everytime we got our feelings hurt the court logs would be even more full. Whether she sues and wins or not is not something I can change, but I can have my own opinion about it, whether you agree with that opinion or not.

[tysgram]

First of all Walgreen's is acting very unprofessional by writing these things but it shouldn't be an issue if they were following HIPPA laws. The pharmacy is not allowed to reveal names or medication in public! How would you feel if the clerk asks you in front of the rest of the customers in the pharmacy "Dan do you need any instruction on how to take your Viagra"?

[TheBigBengal]

Isanah,
Your attitude reflects the type of behavior that is causing incredible problems in this country. Nobody's rights were violated. These were notes in the computer system meant to draw attention to the fact that this woman had acted irrationally and special care was needed when dealing with her. It was certainly put in an insensitive manner, but nobody has a right to be treated in a sensitive manner. It is bad PR for the company and if people think the employees are ridiculing them behind their backs then it will hurt their business, but there is no law that has been broken. The lady is hurting herself more by bringing it out in the open if she is a "private" person. She doesn't seem so private to me. If she was offended the proper thing to do would have been to complain to the corporate office of the company and take her business elsewhere if she so desired. I am certain the employees responsible would be dealt with. No corporation wants that kind of activity going on by their employees for obvious PR reasons.
Lawsuits just cause higher prices...in every sector of the economy. Corporations pass on the expenses to their customers and you and I wind up paying for it.

[snowbird]

They should have given her a hug and said they're sorry.

[Isanah]

Yes, opinions are like......everyone has one! I'm very concerned that several of you see nothing wrong with employees making derogative remarks about people on their records associated with a form of their medical care, the dispensing of their medications. I suppose it would be alright if nurses and physicians maintained computer records of their patients with inappropriate remarks about them? Has it occurred to those of you that think these remarks serve a purpose that there may be two sides to every story or depiction of someone's actions? Do we know what activity went on that the woman reacted to that initiated an employee to write such a derogative comment on medical related records? Personally when I have any form of health care provided to me I would desire those I interact with address me during the present transaction not on preconceived notions from someone that wrote such a nasty comment about me. Has it occurred to some of you that the person who wrote such a comment was perhaps the unstable one for he/she wrote a nasty remark about a customer instead of a more appropriate comment reflecting that the customer desires privacy and requests that such and such not be done...or whatever? There are two sides to every story and many of you are assuming that this woman did something to deserve such a cooment on her record. Have you ever been challenged by an employee is any certain purchase interaction that was completely an ass in some way and when you tried to appropriately correct a situation THEY were the ones that became outrageous? Once I had a Circle K employee charge me for something I had not purchased and when I brought it to their attention they acted very strange, argumentive, defensive, and just plain weird! I guess someone like him, had he been able to could have kept a computer record that I was the crazy one, but I know better, he was a complete ass! lol BTW, this same unstable person was promoted to a managers position several weeks later. God Bless those employers that have to work under that asshole! I had made an informal phone complaint about my concerns about this guy and how he had treated me after the incident, but I guess they thought he deserved a promotion! There is no doubt that this guy will eventually be fired for he was too "crazy" on that one occasion with me to not show his true colors again. If this woman was discussing a Circle K transaction then I agree the case is ridiculous, but the case concerns a pharmacy transaction and falls under the expectation of professional conduct to be used when performing an extention of a medical service. Pharmacists are educated professionals and those asisting them are expected to perform their jobs in a professional manner that ensures the customer is properly treated and their privacy is protected.

[TheBigBengal]

Isanah,
I suppose the Circle K employee should now sue you for labeling them crazy on the internet.
The notes in the walgreens computer system are not part of a "medical record." They do not negatively affect the way this lady was to be treated. Basically they are saying watch out when this lady comes in because if you call her name out (like everyone else in the store has their name called out when their prescription is ready) then she is going to freak out and scream and cause a scene. And I will add that yes, your doctors and nurses DO in fact make similar comments and even notes in their own computer systems. This is not something that is unique to this company by ANY means. I guarantee you that 95% or more of every pharmacy, doctor's office, hospital, etc. that has a computer system with the ability to make customer notes does has a percentage of patients with this type of note. I am a medical professional and so is my wife and many of our family members. (including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical fields) If you were able to listen to the conversations in ANY medical facility regarding a large percentage of patients you would see that this happens every single day.
Let's sue them all. Then we can use our money to pay the higher prices they charge us to make up for their losses.
Did the lady say she had ever been treated unprofessionally? Did she have a problem obtaining the correct medication? Were the pharmacy employees rude to her? Did they do anything to publicize her private information? Did they violate HIPPA? No. One of the pharmacy techs got lazy and did a print screen instead of printing out just the drug information and the screen happened to have their notes at the bottom. This information was attached to the lady's prescription. No customers saw it. Her privacy wasn't violated.
Anyone who gets a lawyer because their feelings were hurt should have their case thrown out and should have to pay the other party's lawyer bill.

[TheBigBengal]

By the way...notice that there were TWO notes made in the system about this lady and that they were several months apart. That means that she caused a scene at least twice in the pharmacy.