Medication Errors
We might be able to help when the negligence of a prescribing doctor, pharmacist, or nurse results in an adverse reaction to a drug that could cause serious injury or death. We can find out what happened, why it happened, and hold them responsible for their medical malpractice.
Healthcare professionals must take certain steps to prevent patients from receiving the wrong dose or the wrong drug. When they fail to do this, you may be entitled to damages for the injuries or loss you or a loved one suffered.
What Are the Different Types of Medication Errors?
There are a few reasons for medication injuries. These are the most common.
Dosing Errors
If the doctor prescribes the wrong dose, or if the pharmacist makes a mistake when preparing an injection or an IV, then the patient can suffer from dangerous side effects. In extreme cases, it can lead to wrongful death.
Harmful Drug Interactions
Doctors must get sufficient background information from their patients to learn their existing allergies, current medications, and overall health status. Doctors and pharmacists are also trained to identify potential drug interactions before prescribing or dispensing medication to a patient. Some medications have adverse side effects when taken together or can even cause death. Healthcare professionals are expected not to prescribe or dispense medications that could have serious reactions to other medications.
Mislabeled Medication
When prescription medications get mixed up or are mislabeled, they can contain the wrong, harmful chemicals. Pharmacy is a very precise field based on evidence and knowledge of biochemistry, and healthcare professionals are entrusted with ensuring the right chemical mixtures get to their patients. When medications are misidentified, usage directions are wrong, or the medication comes with insufficient warnings, they can lead to suffering or even wrongful death.
Failing To Administer Dose At Proper Time
Medications that are prescribed but not administered in a timely manner can also affect a patient’s health. Even if the healthcare professional is administering a drug prescribed to the patient, administering it at the wrong time can result in too much of the medication in the patient’s body at one time. An example is insulin, which is prescribed to many patients who can use it for years without problems. But it can be dangerous when administered at the wrong time.
Compensation for Potential Damages
The types of damages that you may be entitled to if a medication error has injured you are:
- Lost wages
- Additional medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
Gathering the medical records that document your injuries is necessary for your personal injury case. You will need to provide copies of any medical bills you received.
You do not have to fight your case alone. If you have been injured or if a major medication error killed a loved one, our compassionate team at Casey Injury Law will listen to you and will want to hear the details of your personal injury case.