Filing a Lawsuit for a Medication Error

By Kevin Davidson  Aug. 23, 2014 12:12p

In the United States,over 1 million medication errors occur every year, 20 percent of which are life threatening. Thirty percent of the medication errors occur when the drug is prescribed, another 12 percent during transcription at the pharmacy, 11 percent at the time of filling the prescription at the pharmacy, and the rest when the drugs are administered by a nursing home or hospital.

If you have suffered an illness or injury as a result of a medication error, you may be able to file a lawsuit with the help of an experienced St Louis medical malpractice lawyer.

Doctors Commit Errors

Doctors need to be very careful when prescribing any medications to a patient. The doctor must understand the patient’s medical condition and any other medications that the patient might already be taking. This will avoid complications and any potential drug interactions. The health care provider must inform the patient of any known risks associated with medication, so that the patient or their representative can make an informed decision.

If the prescribing doctor fails to inform the patient of the manufacturer’s warning, the responsibility of any complications that may arise as a result generally lies with the doctor and not the manufacturer. The doctor may be held liable for errors in perscription and dosage.

Injuries or illness caused by dangerous drug interaction or allergies are also the responsibility of the prescribing doctor.

Nurse and Pharmacist Errors

An injured patient may also have a valid claim against a nurse or pharmacist who fails to read doctor’s prescription correctly, administers the wrong medication or dosage, provides wrong instructions, or mixes medications inappropriately. Hospitals and nurses can be held liable in cases involving the wrong medication and dosage.

Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and other health care providers have a responsibility to excersise an appropriate amount of caution when perscribing and administering perscriptions. In many cases, failure to do so constitues medical neligence.

If medical malpractice has been committed, a patient has the right to seek compensation for past and future medical expenses including medical care required for the treatment of the long term effects of medication. The victim may also seek compensation for loss of earnings and pain and suffering. In cases involving death, family memebers have a right to seek compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one.

Speak with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice cases, especially those involving prescription errors, can be quite complicated. Each case is surrounded by it's own unique set of circumstances. Due to the complexity of such cases, it is recommended that you consult with a medical malpractice lawyer with experience handling these cases successfully.

At Zevan and Davidson, we have over 20 years of experience and have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. When we take your case, you can rest assured knowing that this is not our first medical malpractice case and that everything is being done to protect you and your family's rights. Call us today at (314) 588-7200 for a free and private consultation.