Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
Maryland pharmacy errors are shockingly common and have several causes. One cause that is rarely discussed is compounding errors involving intravenous (IV) medication. The use of IV medication is very common is hospitals. Normally, a nurse comes into a patient’s room with a small bag of fluid, connects the bag to the IV in the patient’s arm, and hangs the bag up near the patient’s bed. However, patients are only seeing a small part of what goes into preparing this medication.
In reality, there are many steps that must be taken before that bag of liquid is administered to a hospital patient. According to a recent industry news source, there are a number of ways that an error can occur when a pharmacist prepares IV medication. For example, the pharmacists in the hospital’s compounding center are rarely required to conform to the same protocol, resulting in each pharmacist having their own system for creating compound medications. In a busy pharmacy environment, this can result in a pharmacist overlooking a crucial step or making some other kind of hasty error.
Of course, when dealing with serious medications, the measurements must be precise. However, too often, pharmacists are essentially “eyeballing” the correct amount of medication by using small black measurement lines on the side of a syringe. In addition, much of the process relies on hand-written notes that can be misinterpreted, resulting in an increased chance of an error.
At the end of the day, pharmacists have a responsibility to ensure that every medication they handle is properly compounded and delivered to the correct patient. When an error occurs, a patient will more than likely suffer.
Maryland Pharmacy Error Lawsuits
In Maryland, when a patient is provided with the wrong prescription and suffers some kind of harm or injury as a result, they are entitled to pursue compensation for their injuries through a Maryland pharmacy error lawsuit. These lawsuits have strict causation requirements, however, and almost always require the testimony of a medical expert witness to establish that the patient’s injury was a direct result of the pharmacist’s error. Additionally, under Maryland law, certain additional procedural steps must be taken when pursuing some pharmacy error cases. To learn more, contact a dedicated Maryland pharmacy error attorney.
Are You in Need of an Attorney?
If you or a loved one recently experienced the ill effects of a Maryland pharmacy error, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The dedicated Maryland personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have extensive experience handling all types of pharmacy error cases, including those occurring in hospitals and long-term care facilities. We have a broad network of qualified and respected expert witnesses whom we routinely consult about our clients’ cases. Call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney from Lebowitz & Mzhen today. Calling is free, and our representation will not cost you anything unless we are able to help you recover for your injuries.
More Blog Posts:
Workplace Pressure Is a Key Factor in the High Rate of Maryland Pharmacy Errors, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, August 1, 2017.
Pharmacy Errors Resulting from Incorrectly Read Prescriptions, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, September 1, 2017.