Pharmacist disciplined in woman's death

LAS VEGAS - A local pharmacist has admitted to erroneously doubling the potency of a woman's blood-thinning prescription medication, which led to the death of the Texas woman last year.

Veneda Cook, 64, of Pittsburg, Texas, died of a brain hemorrhage while visiting her daughter in Las Vegas in October 1999. Authorities determined that Cook died from an overdose of the blood-thinning medication Coumadin.

Leona Sopko, the Rite Aid managing pharmacist who made the error, had her license suspended for 60 days by the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Wednesday. Sopko was placed on two years probation and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine after admitting guilt in all four accusations brought against her.

Sopko was accused of failing to provide the proper Coumadin dose, failing to notify the woman of the prescription change, failing to check with the woman's Texas doctor before increasing the strength of the pills and mislabeling the medication.

Sopko told the board she accepted responsibility for dispensing 5 milligrams of the blood thinner instead of 2.5 milligrams.

The board's legal counsel said the board did not feel license revocation was appropriate in this case because Sopko has no other infractions on her record.

Cook's family has filed a civil lawsuit against Sopko and the Rite Aid pharmacy.

Sopko's probation prohibits her from managing pharmacist status. Sopko must undergo extra training on counseling patients when they pick up their prescriptions, attend all Las Vegas Board of Pharmacy meetings for the next year and pay 25 percent of the investigative and administrative fees incurred by the board.

The Rite Aid pharmacy also faces disciplinary action, including a $1,000 fine and payment of 75 percent of the board's investigative and administrative fees.