Prescription Medication Errors

Although we spend more money on healthcare than any other nation in the world, medical errors are a leading cause of death in the United States. These deadly medical mistakes not only include misdiagnosis or misinterpreting test results but also include prescription medication errors. These errors can cause severe illness, permanent disability, and death

As it turns out, medication errors are one of the leading causes of injury and death among patients. When lives are permanently altered or ended due to these errors, victims may need experienced legal guidance for a medical malpractice case. If you or a loved one have been hurt by a medical practitioner’s mistake regarding prescription medications, contact Lopez McHugh LLP for a free consultation today.

Types of Prescription Medication Errors

A Drexel University study found medication errors impact hundreds of thousands of patients across the country every year, and around 30% of hospitalized patients experience a discrepancy in their prescription medication. Between 7,000 and 9,000 people die annually from a variety of errors surrounding the distribution of medicines in a range of care settings.

The study reported most prescription errors represent a “Swiss cheese” model of system error, representing the errors commonly made during every phase of the prescription process, from initial prescribing and transcribing to pharmacy dispensation and discharge communications.

Regardless of how minor a drug error may seem, any error in prescription medication could have catastrophic side effects causing a serious reaction in patients. Prescription medication errors can happen in a variety of ways; however, most common medication errors can be divided into the following categories:

Drug Interactions

Prescribing medications that interact dangerously with one another can have grave consequences, including death. It is crucial that all medications are properly vetted and prescribed so patients do not suffer further illness or injury from dangerous interactions among prescribed medications. A thorough review of the patient’s medical chart and history can go a long way toward avoiding this issue.

Failing to Review Patient History

Physicians, pharmacists, and other medical professionals involved with patient prescriptions can reduce errors by more thoroughly investigating patient symptoms, medical history, and current medications. Taking the additional time to thoroughly examine a patient and review their chart before prescribing medicines is critical to providing quality medical care that follows the oath of “do no harm.”

Even a few minutes of carefully examining both the patient and their history could reduce medical errors such as medications interacting violently with one another or harming a patient.

Incorrect Dosage

Giving an incorrect dosage could lead to a patient suffering permanent disability, additional illness, or a worsening of their original condition. Patients depend on a medical professional’s competence in administering correct dosages that will not cause further harm. When the provider fails in this duty, they must be held accountable for their mistake.

Overprescribing

Overprescribing unnecessary medications can have a severe, long-term effect on a patient and their loved ones. Depending on the medication, overprescribing can lead to chemical dependencies that inflict serious illnesses, including addiction.

Stopping Medication Too Soon

Preemptively stopping medication before it has taken effect or in such a way that it causes harm can be just as dangerous as not prescribing the correct medication or dosage. Additionally, patients may experience other side effects from quickly changing or rotating medications. Patients should be closely monitored during aftercare.

Underprescribing

Underprescribing necessary medications fails to fully address a patient’s medical needs. Without the proper dosage, even a medication that can treat a patient’s condition could fall short of providing quality treatment. Correct dosage amounts are crucial in providing proper care.

Physicians should consider the patient’s medical history and personal information, such as height and weight, to determine an accurate dosage.

Wrong Medication

Prescribing the wrong medications to treat a patient’s condition not only fails to provide proper treatment but could also cause a new illness or injury. Patients can suffer not only a worsening of their initial injury or illness but now face surgery, additional treatment, or long-term care to overcome the new condition. This adds to their physical, emotional, and financial concerns, all of which must be addressed in a medical malpractice claim when the liable parties are identified.

Protecting Yourself Against Prescription Medication Errors

While we trust medical professionals to do their jobs correctly each time, it is important to remember that they are humans who are prone to mistakes, just like everyone else. Although they are held to a higher standard than employees in most industries, the fact remains that medical practitioners are often overworked without enough breaks or staff on hand to manage the increase in patient demand.

Because of this, avoiding prescription medication errors lies in the hands of both medical providers and patients. Here are some actions patients can take to head off a prescription medication error:

Read the Medication Information Carefully

Always read about the side effects of each prescription medication carefully in order to know what is and is not normal when taking them. Patients can also ask their pharmacist about side effects when filling their prescriptions. Patients who experience side effects beyond the norm or who suffer symptoms not listed in the product packaging may be victims of prescription medication errors.

If the condition worsens or new symptoms develop, there may be a prescription medication error. Unfortunately, the hospital or other medical facility involved will be extremely unlikely to admit fault. This is when a patient who suspects a prescription medication error will need the advice and guidance of a skilled medical malpractice lawyer to understand who is at fault.

Consult a Doctor Before Discontinuing the Medication

Patients suspecting medication errors should not discontinue treatment without the approval of a doctor. Anyone who suspects a mistake should seek a second opinion immediately, preferably with a doctor not associated with the hospital or healthcare system that prescribed the subject medication.

This will allow a patient to receive unbiased medical advice, as well as give them the opportunity to consult with a neutral medical professional about their situation.

What to Do if You Suspect a Prescription Medication Error

When a patient suspects they have experienced a prescription medication error, they must first seek medical attention to prevent further illness or injury. They may involve notifying nurses and doctors of new symptoms or problems if the patient is in the hospital or other treatment facility.

After receiving the necessary medical care, patients may be left wondering how to proceed if they feel the mistake should be addressed legally. Speaking with an experienced medical malpractice attorney in a free consultation can help the injured party and their loved ones understand if they have a case and what their options are. A lawyer can assess whether the claim meets the requirements for medical malpractice or negligence, including whether the injured party may be able to demonstrate the following:

1. The victim shared an established patient-doctor relationship with the provider in question.
2. The medical provider owed a duty of care to the patient to avoid errors.
3. The practitioner breached or failed in this duty by their action or inaction.
4. The patient suffered injuries or illness as a direct result of the provider’s failure.
5. The victim has expenses related to their injuries or illness.

Our accomplished medical malpractice lawyers will gather evidence, file a medical malpractice claim, and work to secure financial compensation for the patient. While the patient focuses on healing from their injuries or illness, our attorneys will dedicate their efforts to determining who is at fault and holding them accountable.

Potential Compensation for a Prescription Medication Error

Even when the effects of a prescription medication error are minor, the patient may still deserve financial compensation for the unexpected medical bills and other effects on their life. There are a number of expenses, called damages in legal terms, that victims could request as part of a medical malpractice insurance claim or lawsuit.

Compensatory damages are awarded for both economic losses, which have a fixed monetary value, and non-economic ones, which address things like pain and suffering. A qualified prescription medication error attorney will estimate a total damages demand, which may include:

Medical Expenses

These economic damages include all the victim’s hospital bills, surgery costs, medications, therapy, and rehabilitation expenses. If they suffer paralysis or some other disability, they are entitled to seek financial relief for the years that the condition may affect their life. They can also include in-home nursing care or the cost of a care facility.

Lost Wages and Future Earnings

If a patient is unable to work while recovering or is harmed so badly that they cannot return to their job, they can include an estimate of their lost income, job benefits, and future earning capacity. When someone is permanently disabled from working, they will still have bills that must be paid with income that is no longer there.

A skilled attorney can help the patient determine what will be required for them to live comfortably after the life-changing effects of a prescription medication error.

Pain and Suffering

The way the patient’s life is altered by a prescription medication mistake must be taken into account when calculating non-economic damages. Patients may develop chronic pain, be isolated from society due to their condition, lose their enjoyment of life, and develop anxiety or depression.

Determining the value of these losses requires the experience and knowledge of a qualified medical malpractice lawyer. Our legal team can interpret current Pennsylvania medical malpractice law and precedents and use it to request a fair and appropriate amount of financial compensation from the liable party or parties. Every case will be unique, so the value of these losses will vary widely.

Why Choose Lopez McHugh LLP for Your Prescription Medication Error Case

When deciding who to trust with a prescription medication error case, victims may be overwhelmed with other decisions and be unsure of which law firm to use. At Lopez McHugh LLP, our lawyers have a strong background in handling every type of medical malpractice case. We offer more than 50 years of combined experience. Our attorneys have worked with families throughout Philadelphia, across Pennsylvania, and nationally.

We are dedicated to helping clients rebuild their lives as much as possible after the tragedy of a prescription medication mistake. We advocate for patient safety and have the resources, knowledge, and tenacity to push back against insurance companies and large healthcare facilities that refuse to take responsibility.

Contact Our Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorneys Today

Prescription errors in children and adults can have devastating consequences. Medication errors can come with life-altering side effects that impact the quality of life for a patient as well as their loved ones. The duty to provide quality, proper medical care to patients should not end just because a patient is discharged.

Patients trust their physician has a quality treatment plan, and when they do not, patients are unnecessarily harmed. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury or wrongfully died as the result of a prescription medication error, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Lopez McHugh LLP to discuss your options at no charge.