You go to the doctor to alleviate suffering. You trust your doctors and pharmacists to provide the correct prescriptions and medications. But sometimes mistakes happen, and a medication error occurs. As a result, you might suffer serious medical consequences.
Examples of medication errors include mistakes made when prescribing, dispensing, and administering medications. If you suffered injuries due to a medication error, you should have your case evaluated by an experienced malpractice attorney. The malpractice lawyers at Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico can help. Contact us today to explore your options.
What Are Some Common Medication Errors?
Medication error examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Improper dosing—when a patient receives too much or not enough medication;
- Wrong drug—when a healthcare professional prescribes the wrong drug;
- Prescription errors—occur when a doctor prescribes the wrong medicine or a medical professional administers medicine without considering allergies or drug interactions;
- Wrong dose times—when a patient takes the medication at the wrong time;
- Patient mix-ups—when patients take medications intended for someone else;
- Wrong directions or not following directions—medication prescribed with incorrect directions, or patients may fail to follow the directions; and
- Incorrect route of administration—medication is taken incorrectly.
Other causes behind medication errors include complex drug regimens, drugs with similar names, lack of information concerning drug interactions, and illegible prescription handwriting.
A variety of reasons can cause medication errors.
Who Can Be Liable for Medication Errors
There can be several parties responsible for medication errors. Anyone involved in the manufacturing, prescribing, and administration can be liable. These parties can include:
- Pharmaceutical companies,
- Doctors and nurses,
- Pharmacists, and
- Hospitals.
Determining who is responsible for medication errors requires keen legal analysis. Your attorney will evaluate your case and determine who may be held accountable.
How to Prove Common Medication Errors
To prove medical malpractice for a medication error requires proving that someone in the chain of custody (i.e., the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) was negligent. As the victim, you must prove the following:
- The defendant owed you a duty to provide an acceptable standard of care for the profession,
- The defendant breached the standard of care,
- The defendant’s breach caused your harm, and
- You suffered losses as a result.
Your attorney will use their experience to obtain evidence and demonstrate how the medication errors caused your injury. This evidence typically includes your medical records, the prescription, and sometimes the medication bottle. Your attorney will gather any relevant evidence and employ expert witnesses while you focus on healing.
Learn How Our Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorneys Can Help
With decades of experience, Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico attorneys have helped victims of all types in medical malpractice litigation. We have secured settlements in the hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. When you choose our team, you’ll benefit from working with our sophisticated and well-resourced legal team dedicated to providing you with personal care and attention. We help victims recover the compensation they deserve for medication error claims. If you or someone you love has experienced a medication error, contact us today to learn more.
Phil Federico is a partner at Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico where he helps lead the Mass Tort / Class Action and Environmental Law practices, transitioning into these areas after beginning his career as a medical malpractice litigator.
Phil has led and been involved in historic and groundbreaking litigation with verdicts and settlements exceeding one billion dollars.
Loading...