Oral Contraceptive Given to Sixth-Grader Seeking Cold Medicine... Pharmacy Says "She Clearly Stated the Product Name"

Complained of Headache and Abdominal Pain After Taking Medication, Taken to Emergency Room
Parents File Complaint: "No Age Verification or Medication Guidance Provided"

A sixth-grade elementary school student who visited a pharmacy to buy cold medicine was given an oral contraceptive for women, took two pills, and subsequently complained of a headache and abdominal pain, leading to her being transported to the emergency room. The student's parents claimed that the pharmacy failed to check her age or provide proper counseling about the medication, while the pharmacy maintained that the student specifically named the contraceptive product, so they provided it accordingly.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

According to Yeosu MBC on September 14, a sixth-grade elementary school student, referred to as Ms. A, recently began feeling symptoms of a cold and visited a pharmacy in Suncheon to purchase medicine. Security camera footage released from inside the pharmacy shows Ms. A speaking with the pharmacist at the counter, after which the pharmacist rises from their seat to retrieve some medication. The pharmacist then returns to the counter, scans the product barcode, and hands the medicine to Ms. A.

After returning home, Ms. A took two pills she had purchased at the pharmacy. However, her cold symptoms did not improve, and the issue was discovered when her family checked which medication she had taken. The product Ms. A received from the pharmacy was not cold medicine, but an oral contraceptive for women. It was reported that Ms. A did not know that what she had taken was an oral contraceptive. She then experienced severe headache and abdominal pain, after which she was transported to the emergency room. In an interview with Yeosu MBC, Ms. A's father said, "When my daughter's condition worsened, my wife checked the medicine and saw the precautions for contraceptives written on it. We were shocked and extremely upset."

The parents insist there was no verification of Ms. A's age or explanation provided about the medicine's purpose or how to take it during the sale process at the pharmacy. The father claims that when he complained to the pharmacist, the pharmacist responded, "I never told her how many tablets to take." He further questioned, "How can a pharmacist sell medication without explaining what it is and how it should be taken?"

After returning home, Ms. A took two pills she purchased at the pharmacy. However, there was no improvement in her cold symptoms, and the problem was revealed when her family checked the medication she had taken. The product Ms. A received from the pharmacy was not cold medicine but oral contraceptives for women. Photo by Yeosu MBC

The pharmacy, on the other hand, presented a different position from the parents. The pharmacy stated that it was difficult to determine Ms. A was an elementary school student based on her appearance alone, and that Ms. A had clearly stated the product name of the contraceptive when requesting it, so they provided it accordingly. They clarified that it was not a case of mistakenly giving out a contraceptive instead of cold medicine, but rather that Ms. A directly requested a specific contraceptive product and so they sold it to her.

Ultimately, the key issues of the case seem to be what medication Ms. A actually requested from the pharmacist and to what extent instructions were provided regarding the type of medicine and how to take it during the sales process. Ms. A's parents have filed a complaint against the pharmacist at the pharmacy with the police. The police investigation is expected to reveal exactly which medication Ms. A requested at the pharmacy and whether the sales and instruction process was handled appropriately.

Meanwhile, oral contraceptives are medications that affect female hormones and may cause side effects such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, breast tenderness, and mood changes during use. Some rare but serious side effects must also be considered. In particular, combined oral contraceptives containing estrogen can increase the risk of blood clots, which can form in the legs or lungs and, in very rare cases, lead to heart attack or stroke. Therefore, it is important to check one's own medical history and risk factors before use.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.