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Pharmacist Could Get 5 Years For Fatal Chemo Error In Toddler
POSTED: 6:12 pm EDT May 13,
2009
UPDATED: 7:03 pm EDT May 13,
2009
CLEVELAND -- A hospital error could result in a five-year sentence for a Cleveland pharmacist.NewsChannel5 investigator Ron Regan reported that it took three years of legal battles before this outcome was reached, and it all started with the death of a 2-year-old girl.Kelly Jerry's daughter, Emily, died from a serious prescription error. During chemotherapy, she was given an overdose of sodium chloride.On Wednesday, pharmacist Eric Cropp pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter."Defendant Eric Cropp failed to correctly verify the contents and composition of the base solution and did not catch the preparation error," Cropp's attorney said.A reckless homicide charge was dropped, but prosecutor James Gutierrez insisted Cropp should have been more diligent."The defendant described some mistake he had made that contributed to Emily Jerry's death and stated that when he looks back that he could have or should have seen all the flags that he did not catch. Defendant admitted that he rushed and should not have done so," said Gutierrez.Emily's mother declined comment.Two months ago, an exclusive NewsChannel5 investigation revealed how pharmacists can make repeated mistakes that do not have to be reported to the state board of pharmacy.After his mistake, Cropp was hired by another pharmacy and continued to make mistakes, Regan reported.His license was finally revoked."I was shocked and disgusted to hear that he could go down the street and get a new job and that there was no tracking system involved," Jerry said when interviewed in March.Cropp now faces up to five years in prison, though there is a chance he could receive probation. Sentencing is scheduled for July 17.As a result of the NewsChannel5 investigation, new legislation is being drafted for mandatory reporting of pharmacy mistakes.
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