Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
Medication errors continue to harm over one million people each year, and between 7,000 to 9,000 are killed each year in the U.S. due to a medication error. Maryland medication errors can occur in multiple care settings, including hospitals, pharmacies, and doctors’ offices. Researchers continue to investigate causes for medication errors and ways to decrease the risk of errors.
A new survey revealed that burnout is very common among hematology/oncology pharmacists. According to the results of the survey, 62 percent of those surveyed reported symptoms of burnout. Factors that contributed to high dissatisfaction at work for the hematology/oncology pharmacists included the quantity of work, workflow disruptions, working many hours per week, and concerns for major medical errors within the past three months.
The leading author of the study explained that burnout is associated with mental and physical symptoms including anxiety, depression, heart disease, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and more. In addition, the author explained the burnout is associated with a higher risk of making a major medical error. Researchers found that hematology/oncology pharmacists with high levels of burnout were four times more likely to think they made a major medication error in the previous 3 months. A shocking 20 percent of survey respondents reported believing to have made a major medication error in the previous three months.
What Are a Patient's Options After a Pharmacy Error?
A patient who has suffered from a Maryland medication error may be able to file a claim against the parties responsible for making the error, which may include the person who prescribed the medication, the person who filled the medication, the person who administered the medication, the manufacturer, or others. An injured patient has to prove that the party at fault failed to meet the applicable standard of care toward the patient by acting or failing to act in some way. In a medication error case, an expert is often necessary to demonstrate how the party’s actions failed to meet the standard of care and how those actions caused the victim harm. In a negligence lawsuit based on a medication error, an injured patient must show that it was more likely than not that the patient’s injury was caused by the defendant’s negligent actions. Causation can be difficult to show in such cases, particularly in cases where the patient was already sick before the error occurred. Generally, a Maryland personal injury claim must be filed within three years of the date of the injury, though the timing depends on the claim and the circumstances of the case.
Contact a Maryland Medication Error Lawyer
If you have been injured due to a medication error, one of the first things to do is to contact a Maryland medication error attorney. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, our Maryland injury attorneys take pride in advocating for the rights of victims. We understand the complex issues that can arise in personal injury cases and we will do everything we can to get your life back on track. Our legal team is comprised of dedicated and aggressive attorneys who take pride in staying ahead of important cases, rules, and trends. Call 1-800-654-1949 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.