A common theme of the last two years has been the burnout suffered by pharmacy employees, and the increase in patient risk that results from the lack of skilled, motivated, and healthy pharmacy staff. Although some symptoms of burnout, such as increased overtime, lack of retention, and mental health issues among employees are easily measurable, the actual number of error claims may not always be. A recently published investigative report demonstrates that a large increase in pharmacy error claims in the last two years has been obscured by lenient reporting requirements that keep such claims out of the public view. The pattern appears to apply nationwide.
According to the investigative report, several public records requests were used to discover that a large increase in pharmacy error claims corresponded with the labor issues related to the pandemic. The correlation serves as further evidence that the pharmacy industry is unable or unwilling to meet the industry standard of care that patients are entitled to and have come to expect. Pharmacies have little incentive to report instances of error when they are not required to, as public dissemination of such information may hurt the pharmacy’s bottom line. A pharmacy is a business after all.
Patients who are victims of pharmacy error and are hurt or killed as a result may have a significant claim for damages against the pharmacy or employees. Pharmacies are accountable for the conduct and mistakes of their employees, and if they are unable to safely staff their businesses, then they should not be operating under dangerous conditions. While the solutions to this problem may vary, the most important matter is that patient health and safety must come first. Maybe pharmacies need to pay more, maybe they need better training, maybe they need more safeguards, or maybe they need to temporarily close until the adequate standards can be met. Regardless of this, patients can expect adequate care and take legal action in the event of an error or mistake.
What Is a Pharmacy Error Lawsuit?
A pharmacy error lawsuit is a civil malpractice claim that is generally filed in the jurisdiction where the error occurred. If a plaintiff can show that harm was caused by the incorrect medication being prescribed, an adverse reaction was not noticed, or any other negligent act was performed by the pharmacist or other pharmacy employee, then there may be a claim for damages.
Contact a D.C., Virginia, and Maryland Pharmacy Error Attorney
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a pharmacy error, the law is designed to help you redress the wrongs that you have suffered. Contacting a Maryland, Virginia, or D.C. pharmacy malpractice attorney from Lebowitz & Mzhen can be the first step toward obtaining the compensation that you deserve. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys to discuss your possible case today. Call now at 800-654-1949 to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our pharmacy error attorneys today.