Gloucester County Prescription Drug Errors Lawyer
Request a Free ConsultationMost people typically will need to take a prescription drug sometime in their life. Whether it be for short-term or long-term use, every prescription drug potentially carries risks. Although most medicines, when prescribed and taken properly are generally safe, there may still be errors in prescribing that result in serious consequences. If you believe you have suffered harm due to a prescription drug error, reach out to a knowledgeable, local Gloucester County prescription drug errors lawyer today.
These errors could cause adverse reactions that frequently lead to serious complications, including death. A dedicated medical malpractice attorney could investigate whether your injury was the result of a prescriber’s negligence and carelessness.
Healthcare Provider Error
When a doctor decides to prescribe a medication for a patient, he or she generally should consider a variety of factors before writing out the prescription. The doctor often prescribes based on the patient’s height, weight, allergies, health conditions, and any other medications the patient is currently taking.
Additionally, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers may need to take care when administering the medication and follow proper prescription protocols. For example, many prescription errors occur in the hospital setting. When a shift changes, if protocols are loosely followed, a new nurse may not know when the patient last received a medication, resulting in an over-administration of the drug, which could cause substantial problems. Additional errors may include:
- The doctor’s failure to properly write a prescription
- Prescribing an incorrect dosage
- Prescribing a drug the patient is allergic to
- Prescribing a drug that interacts with another prescription
It is important that healthcare providers adhere to a proper standard of care for their patients to avoid any prescription drug errors. When a healthcare provider’s negligence causes an injury as the result of a medication error, consult with a Gloucester County prescription drug errors lawyer.
Pharmaceutical Error
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians may also be responsible for prescription errors. First, pharmacists typically must ensure that he or she prepares the prescription properly, this commonly includes ensuring that the right pills are dispensed. Medications may often be confused due to similar names, shapes, and colors of pills. Additionally, a pharmacist may need to double check for any interactions with other medications and over the counter treatments.
It is also important that a pharmacist provides proper usage instructions. For example, if a medicine needs to be taken with food, it is important this is noted on the prescription’s instructions. Any of these mistakes could lead to a prescription error and potentially harm the patient taking the medication.
Finally, a prescription error may occur due to the pharmaceutical company’s negligence. The medication may have known side effects and the company may fail to adequately warn patients. Additionally, the drug may harm a person’s health and be recalled. If the pharmaceutical company’s negligence caused an injury, a claim could potentially be filed by an injured party against the pharmaceutical companies as well as a physician who may have recklessly prescribed the medication.
Calling a Gloucester County Prescription Drug Errors Attorney
If you have suffered an injury due to a prescription error, contact our firm today. A Gloucester County prescription drug errors lawyer could evaluate your case and help determine which parties could be held liable in court.
Although you may be suffering the consequences of a prescription error, a diligent medical malpractice attorney could help guide you through the legal process of filing a negligence claim. You deserve to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions and receive fair compensation for your suffering. Reach out for an initial consultation today.