From Mr P. Melnick
SIR,-Having read your report of my Statutory Committee hearing (PJ, June 3, p841), I would welcome the opportunity to correct some of its inaccuracies.
You mention that "20mg/ 2ml" had been included on some prescriptions. I can assure you that they did not. Had they been, then that is exactly what the patient would have received. Nowhere did "20mg/2ml" appear; it had been added by me as part of the endorsement process.
Similarly, your report implied that I supplied 5ml ampoules from the outset. The fact is that the prescriptions always called for 100 ampoules. No size or strength was ever stated, and in those first instances, I always supplied 100 x 2 ml ampoules. Although the patient asked me to supply 5ml ampoules, and did on one occasion show me 5ml ampoules supplied by a hospital pharmacy, I told him that I would only supply these if I received a prescription for them.
It was as a result of my receiving a single prescription for 40 ampoules of 5ml that my ordering mistake occurred.
P. Melnick Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex
Our report reflected the evidence presented during the committee hearing. The prescriptions referred to were those that were covered by the proceedings at Redbridge magistrates' court, where Mr Melnick had pleaded guilty, and which were covered by the notice of inquiry that was issued by the Statutory Committee. - EDITOR