Prescription drugs are controlled by the government for a reason. They are often very powerful medications that can be dangerous when taken at the same time as other medications, they may be easily abused, and they may have very sensitive dosing instructions. However, when a doctor prescribes a patient a prescription medication, it is often very important that the patient take the medication as directed. A patient’s failure to do so may result in a worsening of symptoms, resulting in a serious injury or death.
This risk of injury translates to a very important duty on the part of the pharmacist to ensure that the patient’s prescriptions are properly filled, dosed, and dispensed. A pharmacist’s failure to properly complete a patient’s prescription may mean that a patient is not receiving the medication that they need. Any worsening of symptoms caused by a pharmacist’s mistake may be the basis for a personal injury lawsuit. One recent example of a pharmacy error illustrates how serious the repercussions can be when a patient fails to get his physician-prescribed medication.
Man Requires Kidney Transplant after Pharmacy Error
Earlier this year, an Ohio man was diagnosed with stage 5 renal failure after the pharmacy where he fills his blood-pressure medication accidentally gave him anti-seizure medication. According to one local news source covering the tragedy, the error occurred when the pharmacy technician filling the prescription overrode an error that was supposed to alert him that he was filling the prescription with the wrong medication.
Three months after the incorrect medication was given to the patient, he began taking it. After a few days of taking the medication, he felt disoriented, dizzy, and nauseous. His wife noticed that these symptoms came after he started taking the new medication, and she took the pills to a competing pharmacy, where it was discovered that the man had been given the wrong medication.
There is no information as to why the technician overrode the error, nor is there an explanation as to why another employee signed off on the prescription after it was incorrectly filled. However, after the patient did not receive his medication, his diagnosis went from stage 3 to stage 5 renal failure. Doctors have since told the man that he will need either daily dialysis or a kidney transplant.
The patient’s case against the pharmacy is still pending, and no result is expected for at least several months. However, if successful, he stands to recover a substantial award amount for the deterioration of his health.
Have You Been a Victim of a Pharmacy Error?
If you or a loved one has recently been a victim of a pharmacy error, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The harm from a pharmacy error may not be immediately noticeable, and you should discuss your case with an attorney as soon as possible so that you can be evaluated to see if there may be any long-term effects of the error. The skilled personal injury attorneys at the Maryland law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience helping their clients seek compensation for the injuries they’ve sustained. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Court Holds Insurance Company Must Defend Lawsuit Against Medication Distributor, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, August 1, 2016.
Pharmacy Errors Involving Injectable Drugs Administered in Medical Facilities, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, August 15, 2016.