One from a co-worker-how stupid was this?

[lobo94]

One from a co-worker in the land of storage...

A customer is planning to sue us. Why, you may ask?

She put her diabetic supplies in one of our containers for a move from New York to Arizona. At some point, was hospitalized to the tune of seven grand because she didn't have them available to her, and we were delayed in getting the container to AZ.

Ah, excuse me, but if you're dealing with a condition such as diabetes...how is it a good idea to ship your medications and such in a shipping container as opposed to keeping them with you?

I've heard of people putting things like passports in containers, other legal documents...but this is a first...

As to the lawsuit...I'd love to see how that goes. I believe our rental agreement precludes storage of things like medicines. And I'd guess most judges would throw this out of court.

Anyone want to add to this?

[Slave to the Phone]

I can't imagine doing anything like that. Diabetic people need their supplies close at hand because they use them all the time. Now that I'm thinking about it, insulin needs to be kept refridgerated, so it would have spoiled during the shipping. Did she think that her shipment would be magically delivered in less than 8 hours to her destination?

[Sapphire Silk]

Insulin doesn't need to be refridgerated anymore, BUT it must be kept at room temperature. The temps in a storage container would inactivate it and make it useless.

It'll never get to court. I doubt she'll even find a lawyer willing to take it on. Companies are not liable for the stupidity of their customers.

[tollbaby]

Insulin doesn't need to be refridgerated anymore, BUT it must be kept at room temperature.

I respectfully disagree. The insulin that my mother, brother and sister-in-law use must be refrigerated. It depends on the type and on the manufacturer.

[Sapphire Silk]

I respectfully disagree. The insulin that my mother, brother and sister-in-law use must be refrigerated. It depends on the type and on the manufacturer.

Fair enough

Most insulin . . .

Customer was sucky anyway you look at it though

[Brojekk]

It'll never get to court. I doubt she'll even find a lawyer willing to take it on. Companies are not liable for the stupidity of their customers.

Don't be so sure about that.

[wagegoth]

There are too many lawyers in the U.S. This is not just my opinion. They are desperate to pay off debts and make a career. They will often take small cases like this to score a couple thousand dollars for themselves. They're hoping that, for the cost of filing the suit, the company they sue will consider it easier and cheaper to make a small settlement than to fight.

[Andara Bledin]

I respectfully disagree. The insulin that my mother, brother and sister-in-law use must be refrigerated. It depends on the type and on the manufacturer.

Generally speaking, yup. Although, the kind my ex had that had to be stored cool could be left at room temp once he was using them because they wouldn't break down fast enough for him to not have used the entire bottle first.

^-.-^

[CaptainJillian]

And here I was sad because it took longer to get my baseball glove out of my storage container than they thought. Perhaps I have a case!!!
(i am totally kidding.)

[Thatgirl71]

I am an insulin dependent diabetic and I would never think to pack my supplies away somewhere I could not get to them, I believe that she is a complete dumb-ass and is completely in the wrong to sue your company for HER mistake.
I have traveled with my supplies kept in a small cooler with ice packs to keep my insulin cool and they have worked well for me.

[HappyFun Ball]

If she does win her lawsuit, she'll be eligible for a Stella Award.

[Andara Bledin]

Alas, Cassingham hasn't updated the Stella site for a couple of years. I suspect he's got his hands full with his main newsletter and being an EMT.

^-.-^

[nicolecj]

Regardless of if the insulin was packed away or was stolen by rampaging insulin addicted toucans (I knew a toucan once who was diabetic... just go with it) once the lady needed her meds and was not able to access them, wouldn't have been her responsiblity to contact her physician/pharmacy/hospital or any other type of clinic to obtain an emergency supply until she could get it. It is not like this is a complete shock. This is not like needing an epi-pen. You know you are diabetic and it is your personal responsibility to ensure you have the supplies on hand and to take measures in the case of a shortage. I fail to see where any responsiblities can be shifted onto the shipping company... unless they held her down and refused to let her contact any medical professional but somehow I highly doubt that.

[Sparky]

What really happened was this: For some reason completely unrelated to anything your company did, she developed problems. Maybe because she could not afford medication, maybe from some other reason. She now has a big whopping hospital bill and no insurance. She figures your company has deep pockets.

Sad. Dishonest, but sad.

[Seshat]

My meds aren't needed for survival, just pain & sanity management. Yet if I travel, I keep a ziplock bag of the pharmacist-dispensed meds in my carry-on luggage, a copy of my scripts with me, and the contact information for my doctor's office along with a list of my meds in each of my 'emergency info' places.

(Depending on how far from home I'm travelling, that can go to the 'paranoid' level of a copy of the emergency info sheet in every piece of luggage plus my handbag plus a 'concealed travel pouch'.)

If I ever travel internationally again, I'm going to ask my doctor if it's possible to have a kind of signed/letterheaded 'official' document stating his diagnoses and the meds that work for me.

I'm well aware that it will have no legal standing anywhere, and that the scripts he dispenses me are only legal in Aussieland; but like others in this thread have said: it's MY responsibility to ensure that if something goes wrong, I can be properly treated.