Pharmacy's negligence caused preventable death in Australia

A coroner has determined that Paul McHugh's death in December 2022 was preventable due to excessive paracetamol prescribed by his pharmacy. He was given the maximum daily dose for 16 weeks, despite only needing it for 12 days. McHugh reported severe symptoms consistent with paracetamol overdose, but health professionals misattributed them to other conditions. The pharmacy failed to address the risks of continued high-dose dispensing, despite multiple communications with his doctor. The coroner criticized the pharmacy's lack of consultation with McHugh's healthcare providers and recommended that the Pharmacy Guild of Australia improve guidelines for dispensing medications in blister packs.