Important Information about Prescription Errors
Individuals with minor illness and injuries may not need to seek medical assistance and are often able to treat their issues with rest and over-the-counter medications. More serious health problems may require hospitalization, diagnosis by a medical professional, and prescription medication to treat the problem. Prescription drugs are often very effective at fighting viral and bacterial infections and neutralizing the debilitating effects of pain from injuries.
While prescription medication can be a useful tool for treating pain and illness, incorrectly prescribed drugs may have severe side effects, can worsen symptoms of illness, and may cause unforeseen injuries to the patient. Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. would like to provide you with the following information regarding prescription errors and medical malpractice and recommend that you contact a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer if you have suffered serious injury as a result of a prescription error.
How are Prescription Errors Caused?
In hospitals and pharmacies across the nation, prescription errors have been found to be some of the most common medical mistakes made by doctors and physicians. Prescription errors may be caused by:
- Misdiagnosis of the medical error and wrong drug prescribed
- Dosage errors
- Adverse reactions with other medications
- Allergic reaction to the drug
- Adverse effects for patients with preexisting conditions like liver or kidney problems
It is important for doctors and physicians to make the proper diagnosis when examining ill or injured patients and recommend the correct treatment. Failure to pay attention to the patient’s previous medical history, current medications they may be taking, and the history of allergies and allergic reactions may result in a serious prescription error.
Many medical professionals recognize that prescription errors are a serious problem in hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics, and they often point to several reasons for the error, including:
- Long hours and shifts for doctors resulting in exhaustion
- Significant patient volume resulting in distraction and confusion
- Poor handwriting on prescriptions
- Medical record errors
- Misread instructions by pharmacy technicians
Consequences of Prescription Errors
Patients who are given a prescription that causes them harm or worsens their condition may face further medical costs for treatment of the unexpected illness or pain and may experience lasting injuries as a result of the mistake. In some cases, the doctor may be held liable for his or her actions, especially if the prescription error was the result of negligence or failure to pay proper attention to the patient’s case.
Patients who have suffered injury by the negligent actions of a doctor, physician, or pharmacy technician may be able to pursue legal action against the hospital, pharmacy, private practice, or individual responsible. Injured persons may be eligible for compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Expenses not covered by the individual’s health insurance policy
- Pain
- Suffering
- Mental and emotional suffering
For more information on prescription errors and medical malpractice, it is wise to consult an experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer about the specifics of your case.
How to Prevent Prescription Errors
Fortunately, there are steps that patients can take to help ensure that their medical care is of the highest quality, especially when it comes to getting the correct prescription for your health issues. During health examinations, patients can help their doctor get the proper diagnosis and make the right decisions by:
- Thoroughly explaining symptoms of your injury or illness
- Provide thorough accounts of previous medical history
- Detail any known allergies and previous allergic reactions
- Ask questions about drugs that are prescribed
- Make sure instructions about dosage and when to take the medications are clearly explained to you
- Ask questions if you are unsure about any of the doctor’s orders
- Discuss alternative forms of treatment and your options
If you or a loved one has suffered medical problems as a result of a prescription error, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C at 215-238-1130 to discuss your legal options.