Mum’s fury as ‘EpiPen’ charge against pharmacist dismissed

The mother of a teenager who died after going into anaphylactic shock reacted angrily last night after the disciplinary proceedings against a pharmacist were dismissed.

The Pharmaceutical Society inquiry into David Murphy, who was facing an allegation of poor professional performance, was concluded yesterday after the charge against him was dismissed by the inquiry committee due to lack of evidence.

After the committee’s ruling, Caroline Sloan, mother of 14-year-old Emma Sloan who died on O’Connell Street in December 2013, shouted out to Mr Murphy: “You are responsible for my daughter’s death.”

She asked the committee, “Could you explain to me what that [ruling] means? Are you saying this man is not answerable to anything?”

As she moved to leave the inquiry room, she shouted out: “Try living my life for one week.”

The fitness to practice inquiry was looking into events prior to the death of Emma, 14, from Drimnagh in Dublin.

She died after going into anaphylactic shock after she mistakenly ate satay sauce at a Chinese restaurant in Dublin City centre in December 19, 2013.

Once Emma realised she had consumed a peanut-based product, she and her mother decided to go to Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

On the way, Caroline Sloan went into the Hamilton Long pharmacy on O’Connell St to request an emergency supply of EpiPen, which is an adrenalin shot used to treat people suffering from anaphylactic shock.

Mr Murphy, who was working in the pharmacy that night, denied Ms Sloan’s request for an EpiPen as she did not have a prescription.

It was originally claimed Mr Murphy failed to adequately respond when he refused Ms Sloan’s request.

Ronan Kennedy, barrister for Mr Murphy, submitted a successful application to have the case dismissed yesterday afternoon. Mr Murphy did not give direct evidence to the inquiry.

Prior to Mr Kennedy’s application yesterday, an expert witness gave evidence.

Professor Stephen Byrne of UCC told the inquiry that, in his opinion, Mr Murphy should have requested more information from Emma’s mother.

Prof Byrne said an adequate interview with Ms Sloan did not take place so Mr Murphy could determine who the patient was or why the EpiPen was required.

“In my opinion, he could have gone further and requested more information. I think the average pharmacist would have engaged more with the patient,” he said.

He said a request for an EpiPen would indicate the gravity of the situation, adding that it would be very rare for a pharmacist to be faced with a request for an emergency supply of EpiPen.

Prof Byrne was asked by an inquiry committee member how serious such a request for an EpiPen would be, on the scale of one to 10.

He replied it would be on a level of eight or nine in terms of seriousness.

Throughout the case, there has been a conflict regarding whether Ms Sloan told Mr Murphy that the person who needed the EpiPen was her daughter.

She claimed she did so but Mr Murphy indicated, through his legal counsel, that he was not informed the injection was for Ms Sloan’s daughter.

When asked about the discrepancy regarding the events, Ms Sloan said earlier this week: “My memory doesn’t fail. Two years, next week it will be, and it is like it was yesterday.”