An Atascadero woman is suing her doctor, Dignity Health and Rite Aid Pharmacy after being prescribed a drug and subsequently losing her unborn child.
The lawsuit was filed in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court on Monday.
In the lawsuit, Lorena Anderson claims Dr. Maria Rasul confirmed she was pregnant during her appointment at the Bishop’s Peak Women’s Health Center in San Luis Obispo on March 20, 2018.
Anderson was reportedly prescribed Misoprostol tablets and had the prescription filled that day at the Rite Aid Pharmacy in Atascadero.
The lawsuit claims Dr. Rasul and the pharmacy failed to explain to Anderson the drug commonly referred to as the “abortion pill” would cause her unborn fetus to be aborted.
After taking the medication, which was “carelessly and negligently prescribed”, the claim says Anderson lost her unborn child.
The lawsuit also claims the doctor canceled the prescription but failed to tell Anderson not to take the drug should the prescription be filled. In addition, the lawsuit claims the pharmacy staff did not ask Anderson if she was pregnant.
The Bishop’s Peak Women’s Health Center is operated by Dignity Health.
Dignity Health released the following statement to KSBY News: “We take these matters very seriously. We hold sacred the care and service we provide to each and every patient. The reality is that these allegations as stated are not consistent with the facts and are inaccurate. Consistent with patient privacy laws and hospital policy, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of patient care or matters related to pending litigation.”
In the lawsuit, Anderson’s attorney, Garrett May, claims the defendants “failed to follow the standard of care and/or failed to follow proper protocols for the diagnosis, treatment and care of Plaintiff.”
The plaintiff is seeking claims for medical negligence, financial damages and emotional distress.
To read the entire lawsuit, click here.
