Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
From coast to coast, pharmacy errors have been on the rise lately. While some pharmacy errors are harmless, and many are caught before the patient actually ingests the medication, others can result in serious injury or death.
One recent article from a local news source in Oklahoma City discusses the woes they are having in that area of the country with pharmacy errors. The writer of the article actually had a pharmacy provide her with the wrong drug the week she was writing the piece. Luckily, she caught the error before she took the medication, and the pharmacist provided her with an immediate apology and the correct medication.
However, not every time will a patient be so lucky to catch a pharmacist’s error, nor is it a patient’s responsibility to do so. Each year, there are thousands of injuries and deaths caused by medication errors. Many of these medication errors occur at local pharmacies across the country.
Preventing Pharmacy Errors
The first and most important thing to do is to always check the label of the drug that the pharmacist gives you and compare it with what the doctor prescribed you. If they don’t match, immediately go to the pharmacy or call it in and let them know. They should happily provide you with the proper medication.
Aside from that, it may also help to decrease chances of a medication error to speak to the pharmacist upon filling a prescription. Most of us answer “no” without thinking about it when we are asked by the pharmacy technician whether we want to speak to the pharmacist. However, speaking with the pharmacist gives him or her one more opportunity to catch an error. Moreover, it ensures that you are provided the proper dosing instructions.
Of course, this is not a burden that should be placed on the pharmacy customer. It is the pharmacist’s duty to provide the proper drug without prompting or additional steps taken by the customer. However, the reality is that if you don’t take these extra steps you may end up the victim of a serious or fatal pharmacy error.
When pharmacy errors do occur, the law in Maryland allows for the victim to recover for his or her medical expenses and pain and suffering by filing the appropriate action in Maryland state court.
Have You Been Provided the Incorrect Medication?
If you or a loved one has recently suffered some kind of harm, whether it be temporary or permanent, due to a pharmacy error, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Pharmacies have a large number of customers and thousands of orders to fill each week, so it is not uncommon for one to get mixed up on occasion. When that happens, however, innocent people can get hurt. If you would like to learn more about the laws in Maryland that allow for the innocent victims of pharmacy errors to recover, click here or call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Parents Have a Hard Time When Dosing Children’s Medication Because of Metric-System Conversion, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, July 30, 2014.
Confusing Drug Names May Lead to More Prescription Drug Errors, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, August 20, 2014.