Pharmacists, like doctors and nurses, are medical professionals and are accordingly held to a high standard. This standard requires that pharmacists perform the duties of their job diligently, ensuring that patients are provided with accurate prescriptions and instructions on how to take their medication. When pharmacists make mistakes, anyone injured as a result of the mistake may be entitled to compensation through a Maryland pharmacy error lawsuit.
Pharmacy errors are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths across the United States each year, making it an important topic among researchers. The underlying causes of pharmacy errors vary, but according to a recent news article, workplace pressures are a major cause of pharmacy errors.
Historically, getting to the bottom of why pharmacy errors occur has been a difficult process, due to the lax reporting requirements. Indeed, the article explains that the number of pharmacy errors has remained constant over the past several years, but, due to changes in reporting requirements, the number of reported incidents has gone up. The researchers discovered that roughly 25% of all errors are caused by pharmacists providing the wrong medication to the patient, and another 25% of all errors are being caused by the pharmacist providing incorrect or unclear instructions on how to take the medication.
Researchers believe that the workplace stresses placed on pharmacists play a key role in the number of errors. Intuitively, this makes sense because pharmacists are human and subject to making errors when they are overworked. Of course, this does not provide an excuse for pharmacy errors.
Who Is Responsible in Pharmacy Error Cases?
As noted above, negligent pharmacists may be held liable for the repercussions of their mistakes. Also, in some cases, the pharmacy that employs the allegedly negligent pharmacist may be held liable under the theory of vicarious liability.
Vicarious liability is a legal doctrine that allows a victim to hold a third party responsible for the negligence of the person that caused their injury. The classic example of vicarious liability is an employee who causes an injury while on the job. For example, if a pharmacist makes an error, resulting in a patient’s serious injury, and the pharmacist was following pharmacy protocol at the time he made the error, the pharmacy may also be held liable.
Proving Maryland pharmacy error cases can be difficult, and these cases should be handled by experienced attorneys well-versed in this specific area of the law.
Have You Been a Victim of a Maryland Pharmacy Error?
If you or a loved one has recently been a victim of a Maryland pharmacy error, you may be entitled to monetary compensation from one or more sources. The dedicated Maryland personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have amassed decades of collective experience representing the victims of pharmacy errors. Call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Maryland pharmacy error attorney today. Calling is free, and we are so confident in the level of representation we provide that we will not bill you for our services unless we are able to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
More Blog Posts:
Pharmacy Error Rates May Be Artificially Low Due to a Lack of Mandatory Reporting Requirements, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, June 29, 2017.
Pharmacy Errors Involving Expired Medication, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, July 11, 2017.