A physician and pharmacist are facing manslaughter charges after the wrong medication dose led to an older patient's death in 2020, KFOR reported May 16.
The Oklahoma attorney general's office charged pharmacist Justin Lee and physician Alexander Frank, MD, with second-degree manslaughter and neglect by caretaker.
The case involved a 75-year-old patient recovering from an at-home fall and associated rhabdomyolysis at Oklahoma City-based Bellevue Health and Rehabilitation Center. The patient was given 100 milligrams of methotrexate over a five-day period instead of the recommended 20 milligrams per week, according to KFOR.
Court records said Dr. Frank approved the incorrect dose of methotrexate via electronic signature. The documents allege that Mr. Lee received the prescription and "ignored" a computer-generated warning that stated the dose fell "above the recommended geriatric daily dose." Mr. Lee reportedly failed to follow the instructed requirement to verify the dose and filled the prescription for the patient.
The patient was given 20 milligrams of the drug daily for five days in May. On May 16, the patient was found in a medical crisis. He was intubated, placed on a ventilator and died 10 days later, the report said.
The court filing coincides with a wrongful death suit filed by the family, according to the report.