What Happens When a Pharmacist Makes a Mistake

Pharmacists play a vital role in the medical field, dispensing life-saving medications daily. The demands of their jobs and the continually changing landscape of prescription drugs require them to respond to growing requirements to dispense medications accurately. When a pharmacist makes a mistake, patients can be seriously hurt or die.

Pharmacists have a challenging job. However, the health and wellbeing of the people they serve is paramount. A Philadelphia prescription medication error attorney can help you take the necessary actions to recover from the damages you suffer. Lopez McHugh LLP offers critical guidance to individuals impacted by Philadelphia medical malpractice.

Steps to Take When a Pharmacist Makes a Mistake

Alarmingly, 6.5 in 100 admissions in acute hospitals occur because of a prescription medication error, according to the National Library of Medicine. The best outcome is that you notice a medication error before taking a prescription drug. However, if you discover the pharmacist made a mistake after taking a drug or narcotic, there are actions to take.

Whether you experience a reaction or notice no effects, take these steps:

• Get medical care immediately: Call 911 if you experience a reaction, or call your doctor for further instructions.
• Do not continue the prescription: When you are positive there has been an error, stop taking the medication. A physician should ensure you get the appropriate prescription after you contact them for further instructions.
• Keep the medication: Retain any of the medication you did not take. A further examination will determine what it is and if it is the wrong prescription for you.
• Keep the original packaging: A prescription label provides vital details of what medication is or should be, the dosage, and any other evidence that may support a prescription medication error claim.
• Speak to a prescription medication error lawyer in Philadelphia: Injuries from a prescription error may occur immediately, or they may be discovered through medical testing and treatment over time. It will be the injured party’s responsibility to prove negligence.

Never give statements or return the portion of unused medication to the pharmacy. Evidence of a medication error could be destroyed or modified in documentation. Preserving evidence of prescription medication error is vital to reclaiming compensation for any damages you experience.

Is a Pharmacist Responsible for Prescription Medication Errors?

Pharmacists can make mistakes, resulting in medication errors and they could be held liable for negligence if it occurs. The Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences reports that dispensaries using a two-pharmacist system, where each pharmacist checks the other’s work, significantly reduces the risk of medication errors. Unfortunately, most pharmacies only have one pharmacist on staff at any given time of day.

Other parties may be responsible for a prescription medication error. According to the cited National Library of Medicine study above, 50% of prescription errors occur when a healthcare provider prescribes or orders a medication as part of a patient’s treatment regimen. The prescribing physician or practitioner owes you a duty of care to provide the correct medication, which includes considering the other medications you take and the conditions you have.

Pharmacists possess an in-depth knowledge of drugs and their potential for harm, often allowing them to detect prescribing errors before a medicine ever reaches a patient. When the pharmacist does not detect a prescription medication error by a provider, the prescribing physician may be liable for the damages you experience.

Proving Negligence in a Prescription Medication Error

A prescription medication error lawyer will be responsible for proving a pharmacist’s actions resulted in negligence. Holding a pharmacist liable for these damages is challenging but possible through careful investigation and application of the law. Your attorney will examine the details of your claim and determine if it meets the following criteria:

• The pharmacist owed you a duty of care.
• They committed a breach of care through an unreasonable action, lack of action, or gross negligence.
• The breach of care caused or contributed to your injuries.
• Your injuries resulted in damages.

With attention to detail, many people catch prescription medication errors before injury occurs. This outcome is the best for all involved. When this happens, the error likely causes no damage. Because of the legal complexities surrounding medical malpractice and prescription medication errors, discuss your claim with a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney to determine if you have a case.

Types of Mistakes a Pharmacist May Make

Time restraints can make waiting to talk to a pharmacist about your prescription an added task in an already busy schedule. The few extra minutes to discuss any concerns or to ask these questions about a medication prescription can be lifesaving. These common pharmacist mistakes may lead to a prescription medication error claim.

Inadequate Drug Interaction Review

Keeping prescriptions at the same pharmacy allows a pharmacist to more effectively evaluate your medication and detect potential drug interactions before filling a prescription. Still, the pharmacist may overlook how new medicines could interact with your existing prescriptions. They should also review known allergies to certain medications to prevent adverse reactions to a newly prescribed medication.

Wrong Medication

Many prescription medications have similar names, which may lead to confusion. A multitasking pharmacist may cause a prescription error by confusing prescriptions or grabbing the wrong medication bottle. Either mistake can be costly or even fatal.

Missing or Incorrect Instructions

Instructions for taking medication to avoid harmful reactions or interactions play a critical role in keeping consumers safe. Drug label warnings can alert that a medication should not be taken during pregnancy, with grapefruit juice, or provide other significant alerts to prevent injury. Without the proper instructions, there is no way to ensure medications are taken correctly. Always retain any paperwork dispensed with a prescription.

Dosage Errors

It is possible to receive the correct medication but the wrong dosage. Seek medical care if you receive a higher dosage than required for any medication. Incorrect dosage may result in the following adverse situations:

• Overdose
• Organ failure
• Other extreme side effects
• Death

It may take time to understand the total damages caused by dosage errors. Properly documenting this error by receiving medical attention is a significant step in supporting a prescription medication error claim in Philadelphia.

Consequences of Pharmacist Mistakes

The potential damages caused by errors in prescription medicines can widely vary. The resulting consequences of these mistakes may lead you to experience the following:

• Medical costs, including additional treatments and hospital admittance
• Other medication costs
• Lost time at work or the loss of the ability to earn a living
• Transportation costs for medical care
• Pain and suffering

A thorough evaluation of your injuries will allow a prescription medication error attorney at Lopez McHugh LLP to seek the compensation you deserve for all of the damages an act of negligence costs you. In severe mistakes by pharmacists, when death occurs, a Philadelphia wrongful death attorney will strive to demand justice for the loss of a loved one. When pharmacist mistakes impact your life, we stand ready to fight for you.

Have You Been Impacted by a Pharmacist Mistake?

Pharmacists play a critical role in healthcare in Philadelphia. Patients trust them with their lives, believing a pharmacist will safeguard their health by dispensing the correct medications. Sadly, these errors do occur and may produce significant damage.

Schedule a free consultation with a prescription medication error attorney at Lopez McHugh LLP to discuss a pharmacist’s mistake and its impact on your life. Over 50 years of combined experience benefit you legally when you need it most.