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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be livid at the chemist

42 replies

Driftingthoughlife · 29/03/2019 02:36

I have the same surname and first initial as my MIL for example
MIL is Lisa Brown
I am Lily Brown so both Mrs L Brown.
I dropped in a prescription for my pills at the chemist. They had my beta blockers but not my antidepressants. They gave me my beta blockers and then said they would deliver my anidepressants and it would be today or tomorrow
Phone call tonight from my MiL saying they had delivered my anti drepressants to her address. My husband then gets 100 questions to why I am on antidepressants.
FFS I really did not want them knowing for many reasons

OP posts:
AlmostAJillSandwich · 29/03/2019 02:39

Every right to be angry, what a shocking thing to happen. Imagine if this kind of mix up happened with someone vulnerable who didnt check the name label and just took what was given to them, could potentially kill somebody even.

Smotheroffive · 29/03/2019 02:40

I'd be absolutely tamping at that. They've breached your confidentiality!!!

Original poster
Driftingthoughlife · 29/03/2019 02:44

The label was correct on the tablet box with my name but on the bag they were delivered in was my MILs address.

OP posts:
Megan2018 · 29/03/2019 02:51

This is a serious GDPR breach, I’d make a written complaint and contact the Information Commissioner ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/

They have to report this to the ICO themselves too legally but bet they won’t!

SnowsInWater · 29/03/2019 03:04

That is disgraceful. Major complaint time.

ZebraOwl · 29/03/2019 05:13

That’s horrendous, absolutely complain - if the pharmacy is part of a chain complain to CEO of firm & make a complaint on Twitter if you have it (you can just say your medication was delivered to your MIL if you’re not wanting to say what it was).

Pharmacy are lucky that it was your MIL they sent it to so the incident was contained - unless you have an INCREDIBLY unusual surname they could presumably have sent it to a totally random “Mrs L Brown” instead by mistake.

Purplecatshopaholic · 29/03/2019 05:44

Complete breach of your confidentiality - major complaint time!

Bluelonerose · 29/03/2019 05:47

Yes you need to make a complaint.
I remember when I was a child going to pick up my prescription with my mom and our address was printed out completely different to what ours was.
Turns out there was another child with the same name as me and ide been booked in as her not me Shock

Mistakes DO happen but you do need to make a complaint so more stringent checks can be done

TheQueef · 29/03/2019 05:49

Unacceptable.
Prescriptions have the address printed on.

Jenny70 · 29/03/2019 05:49

I would definitley complain. But I am not sure what they can do to rectify it, as there is no way of "taking back" that knowledge. But obviously they need to change their methods to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Not only have they shared personal information with your MIL (your tablets), but also had it been someone else you wouldn't have had your tablets or away to get more (scripts can't usually be filled back to back). Plus there is the danger of the person receiving it getting medication they are not meant to be taking.

Wrong on so many levels.

I would hope they were very apologetic and could explain how it happened and how to ensure it doesn't happen again. Usually they are very careful to ensure scripts go the correct people, so what lapsed here?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 29/03/2019 06:05

Pharmacy are lucky that it was your MIL they sent it to so the incident was contained

A random person might have been better for OP, would have saved the trouble of having the answer MIL’s questions.

GetStrongKeepFighting · 29/03/2019 06:15

It's already happened that someone died because they were delivered someone else's medicine Sad.

Tell MIl it's none of her business

HollyBollyBooBoo · 29/03/2019 06:29

Put a complaint into the Chemist. It has to be logged and investigated.

It's of absolutely no comfort to you but thankfully in the UK prescribing errors are a minute percentage but sadly do happen as humans are largely dispensing the items and the errors can sadly be fatal - thankfully not in your case.

Magenta82 · 29/03/2019 06:44

Pharmacy are lucky that it was your MIL they sent it to so the incident was contained

Completely the opposite in fact. They have given sensitive personal information to someone who is in a position to use it against the data subject (op) to the impact if much higher than if it had been delivered to a random person.

Fridasrage · 29/03/2019 06:49

Would definitely complain, that's an incredibly serious privacy breach and very much against the law.

Your mother in law is acting absolutely outrageously. Your husband should tell her very firmly that your medical information is none of her business, and shut any attempt at conversation down until she's done prying.

DratThatCat · 29/03/2019 07:25

This will be classed as a 'serious incident' at the chemist and should be reported to the GDPR and their own compliance team. Absolutely complain. Their systems are obviously not robust enough to ensure their patient's confidentiality so there needs to be an investigation.

As for your MIL, tell her (or get your DH to tell her) it's none of her business.

Skittlesandbeer · 29/03/2019 07:35

I’d be pretty cross with DH, to be honest. He could easily have disavowed all knowledge and said it must have been a random other L Brown (not you).

He’s outed you almost as much as the chemist did. And yes, I’d follow up. With bells on.

hopeishere · 29/03/2019 07:47

Why did you MIL accept the delivery? Was she expecting one??

Why did she open the bag?

I'd contact the chemist today and say you'll be reporting it. They have a duty to report as well.

At the end of the day there's nothing to be ashamed of but you've every right to be cross.

Not sure it's your DHs fault though as a pp suggested...

longwayoff · 29/03/2019 07:56

Last year a bundle of documents was delivered to my address, different name. Opened it, not mine, someone's medical information delivered to my address. Sent from my GP's surgery who had obviously recorded the wrong address for him. Rang GP, told clerk, asked her to check Mr Mystery's address and alter it if necessary.

Ooh no, cant do that.
Why not?
Data Protection.
?? Please explain.
He has to request a change of address himself.
But he doesn't know about it so what are you going to do?
Well that's the law

Had to point out that the surgery was already in breach as I had his medical history in my hand and would be reporting them before she grudgingly accepted that one phone call could sort it out. Better training required.

CrystalTits · 29/03/2019 08:02

OP you could tell your MIL arhat antidepressants are often prescribed for other conditions not just depression, eg chronic pain www.nhs.uk/conditions/antidepressants/

Drizzlehair · 29/03/2019 08:10

No idea how helpful but my dad was prescribed and takes a very low dose of antidepressant to help him sleep, it just calms his brain enough to switch off.

If you want to avoid difficult conversations you could say similar?

Vinorosso74 · 29/03/2019 08:17

Yes complain. They need to tighten up their procedures to stop such an error happening again.
DP once had a letter through for a hospital appointment for his dad. They have the same first name and surname but different middle initial and obviously DOB and NHS number are different. They managed to switch appointment over to his dad but that could have been a complete stranger with the same name not knowing why they had this hospital appointment.

fourcanaries · 29/03/2019 08:21

Tell her the truth. Help to remove the stigma. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Then write a formal complaint to chemist and whoever is their legislator.

Cel982 · 29/03/2019 08:33

I’d be pretty cross with DH, to be honest. He could easily have disavowed all knowledge and said it must have been a random other L Brown (not you).

Well, not really, given that the OP's name and correct address were on the tablet box itself.

thedisorganisedmum · 29/03/2019 08:45

It's not even the confidentiality that is the most worrying, it's the safety of someone at risk to take medications not prescribed to them!

Of course you should make an official complaint, and I would advise my GP surgery too (nothing they can do, but to make them aware.)

Why did you MIL accept the delivery? Was she expecting one??
Why did she open the bag? Confused
because that's what any normal person would do when receiving something addressed to them...

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