>Between 1992 and 1998, Shipman obtained more than 24,000mg
> diamorphine illicitly.
or about 4g per year
> Between February and August 1993, Shipman obtained for himself
> 14 single 30mg diamorphine ampoules by prescribing them in the
> names of 13 different patients.
13 scripts in 6 months - one every couple of weeks - all in different
names so nothing obvious from looking at patient medication records
> The question arose as to whether this pattern of prescribing
>was so abnormal that it should have aroused the concern of
>the pharmacist who dispensed them, Mrs Brant, and/or that of
> Detective Constable (DC) Patrick Kelly, the CIO for Hyde at the time.
I would doubt that any pattern would have been noticed by any pharmacist.
Without the benefit of hindsight why would a pharmacist look to see how
much diamorphine had been prescribed by a GP over a 6 year (or 6 month)
period?
The scripts would have been considered individually and the main
focus of the pharmacist would be on the technical legalities of the
scripts/signed orders. i.e. form, quantity in words and figures, doctors
own handwriting, dose or use for signed orders (any use - just as long
as there is one)
I also have doubts about what if anything happens when a pharmacist
raises concerns (n=2 in 25 years seems like very little)
and why do I feel I shouldn't go into details ;-)
Regards
Jeff
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