The careline warden updated the Dr over the phone about the current symptoms Mrs Humble had. She was suffering with her head aches and back pains and today she could hardly stand up. She could barely make it to and from the comode.
The Dr also needed to discuss the list of medication the patient was on.
She called Bert, the son, immediately afterwards to get him upto speed of his mother's recent illness. The warden informed him the only painkiller his mother was taking was codydramol.
The on call Dr said her painkiller was a low dosage, so Bert needed to arrange someone to give her some paracetamol. The wardens are not however permitted to issue medicine.
After the phone call ended, Bert drove to his mother's house and looked over the plain white box, then the printed chemist label. In black and white "Codydramol 10/500 tabs"
After a 4 year stint in quality control/assurance pharmaceutical labs, he notices a thing or two on prescribed medicine. Quick Google of codydramol backed up his fears. The 500 represents 500mg of paracetamol. The overworked Dr, (giving him the benefit of doubt here) missed this and between him and the warden nearly overdosed Berts mother on paracetamol.
Moral of the story is don't take things at face value. Chinese whispers can kill. Next time don't be lazy and speak to the Dr yourself.
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