Additional Coverage:
- DOJ sues Walgreens, alleging it ‘knowingly’ filled millions of prescriptions that lacked legit medical purposes (nbcnews.com)
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens, accusing the pharmacy chain of illegally distributing millions of prescription drugs.
According to the DOJ, Walgreens filled prescriptions from August 2012 to the present that lacked a valid medical purpose or were not issued by a licensed professional. The lawsuit alleges that Walgreens pharmacists were pressured to fill prescriptions without properly verifying their legitimacy, resulting in an illegal flow of drugs out of their stores.
The DOJ claims that some Walgreens patients died of overdoses after receiving invalid prescriptions. The 300-page lawsuit was filed in Chicago.
Walgreens responded by stating that it is seeking clarification from the court regarding pharmacy responsibilities. The company claims it has written policies to comply with legal obligations, but other company actions prevent pharmacists from following those policies.
The lawsuit alleges that Walgreens prioritized profits over safety by implementing policies that required pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly, leaving them insufficient time to verify their validity. Walgreens allegedly tracked and reprimanded pharmacists who dispensed a low rate of controlled substances, which the company believed compromised customer service.