Prescription errors are common and can occur in a variety of circumstances. They can be made by a doctor prescribing a medication or by a pharmacist filling a prescription. They can be made by providing the incorrect dosage, or they can occur by providing the wrong drug. For example, some drug names that are similar can be confused, and a prescription may be filled with the wrong medication. The Institute for Safe Medicine has even comprised a list of commonly mixed-up drug names. Also, a pharmacist may simply misinterpret or misread a doctor’s prescription. Any of these mistakes can have serious consequences for patients.
Victims of prescription errors may be entitled to monetary compensation, but they or their loved one will need to establish that a defendant acted negligently by doing or failing to do something. This means the plaintiff has to show the defendant failed to meet the “standard of care,” which generally requires the medical professional to use the same practices and procedures that other medical professionals would use in the situation.
Since medical malpractice cases, including prescription errors, involve complicated medical information, it is important to hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney who understands how to interpret medical information and knows how to use experts effectively. The damages resulting from a prescription error case can be devastating, and injured parties should be compensated fairly for their losses.
Family Sues After Prescription Mistake at CVS Results in Toddler Overdose
A family in Florida is suing CVS after the store mislabeled a prescription for their daughter. According to one news source, the mother picked up a prescription for her daughter, who was three years old. However, the prescription ended up being double the appropriate dosage. The daughter took the medication and began to feel sick, and she began experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, pain, anxiety, and agitation. She ended up in the hospital. The medication she was prescribed was five milliliters of augmentin, a medication that treats infections. She received a prescription for 10 milliliters instead of five.
The family’s attorneys said months later the child still is suffering the effects of the overdose. According to the lawsuit, the daughter experienced bodily injury, physical impairment, severe physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering, disability and disfigurement, embarrassment and humiliation, and a loss of enjoyment. In addition, another concern is that the child may be more resistant to the medication in the future, since an overdose can make one’s body resistant to the medication in some cases. Many parents shared the parents’ concern, noting that they give their children medicine according to what is written on the bottle without a second thought.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Since medical malpractice cases are complicated, it is essential to hire a seasoned attorney who has experience in medical malpractice cases. At Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, our Maryland attorneys have nearly two decades of experience representing victims of prescription errors, car accidents, and other negligent conduct. We do not recover any fees unless we obtain a settlement or a judgment in your favor. Contact us at 1-800-654-1949 or 410-654-3600 or online to receive a free consultation about your case.
More Blog Posts:
Pharmacist’s Error Results in Seven-Year-Old Boy Receiving Medication Ten Times Stronger than Prescribed, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, October 3, 2016.
Compounded Prescriptions May Present an Increased Risk of Pharmacy Errors, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, November 1, 2016.