Each year, between 7,000 and 9,000 people die in the United States because of a medication error. Many more experience adverse reactions that are not reported. Maryland medication error victims often suffer from physical pain as well as psychological pain because of the error. The problem of medication errors, which are often due to human error, has pushed many pharmacies to begin implemented pharmacy automation. Pharmacy automation is a process that includes the handling and distribution of medications in pharmacies and hospitals.
Automation can include counting medicines as well as maintaining and updating patient information. The global pharmacy automation market is expected to continue to grow. The reasons for which growth is expected include a shift towards digitization and a rise in investment in healthcare development in certain countries, leading to an increase in opportunities for growth. Some see automation as a way to avoid medication errors, although it may also bring about risks and new opportunities for errors to be made.
If someone is injured due to a medication error, they may be able to file a negligence claim against the pharmacist, doctor, or other provider, in order to hold them responsible for the error and seek financial compensation. In a Maryland medication error negligence case, a victim generally has to show that the defendant owed the victim a duty, the defendant failed to meet the standard of care required, the victim was injured because of the defendant’s negligent conduct, and the defendant’s conduct caused the victim injuries. A medication error victim has to prove it was more probable than not that the injury the victim suffered was caused by the healthcare professional’s negligent conduct. In the tragic event of a death caused by a medication error, certain members of the decedent’s family may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties.