Pharmacy Owner Ordered to Pay $15,000 for Illegally Prescribing Controlled Medication

A woman in Patos de Minas, Brazil, suffered severe health consequences, including insomnia, malaise, prostration, and depression, after becoming dependent on a controlled medication. The medication was recommended by Alair Raimundo dos Santos, the owner of Drogaria Alvorada pharmacy, to help her lose weight gained during pregnancy. The woman stated that she became so dependent that she could not perform basic daily activities like getting out of bed or preparing meals without taking the pills. Her condition worsened, leading her to quit her job as a general services assistant and stop caring for her daughter, necessitating the hiring of a domestic employee. She also reported receiving further controlled medications from Santos without a prescription or adequate guidance when she informed him of her symptoms. The court found that the pharmacy owner failed to inform the client about the risks and side effects of the medication. Consequently, the Justice Court of Minas Gerais (TJMG) upheld a ruling ordering Santos and Drogaria Alvorada to pay the woman R$ 15,000 in moral damages. Santos must also reimburse half of the client's expenses for the medication, with the final amount for material damages to be determined later. The defense claimed the medications were supplied regularly and accused the client of bad faith, but the court ruled that the pharmacy and its owner bore exclusive responsibility. The court noted the client's vulnerability due to her simple background and low education, which prevented her from fully understanding the risks of self-medication with controlled substances.