Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
In this blog, we write about Maryland pharmacy errors, which occur when any mistake is made between the doctor writing the prescription and the patient taking it. Some of these errors include dispensing errors—when a pharmacist makes a mistake dispensing the medication based on the written prescription. These errors can come in a few different forms—maybe the dosage or strength is mistaken, for example—but one of the most dangerous errors is when the wrong medications are dispensed. Usually, we write about instances where this happens on an individual level—when a patient is given the wrong medication—but occasionally, this can happen on a much wider level as well, affecting many patients.
For example, recently, one health clinic experienced a widespread dispensing error thought to have stemmed from a pharmacy machine malfunction. According to a news report covering the story, the wrong medications were mixed in with some prescriptions dispensed between November 9th and 16th at the health clinic. Officials are now reaching out to all those who picked up prescriptions during that time frame to try and make sure they do not accidentally take the wrong medication, which could potentially cause serious injury or illness. But it may be hard to find everyone who picked up prescriptions. For example, officials believe that some individuals had their phone numbers changed since they first entered them into the system—meaning that they cannot find them at the moment.
So far, no serious adverse health outcomes have occurred. But the situation is being monitored closely—it is possible some adverse health outcomes may not be experienced right away. This situation shines a light on how dispensing errors could happen and not be caught. If it’s a new prescription, or one that looks similar to another, individuals might not even realize that there’s a problem and take the medication. If they begin to feel negative symptoms, it may take them a while to figure out that a pharmacy error was the cause, especially since most people expect pharmacists and prescriptions to be accurate.
Can Pharmacy Patients Sue a Pharmacy After a Medication Error?
Once a pharmacy error is identified, if negative health outcomes have occurred, then individuals in Maryland may be able to sue the negligent pharmacy or pharmacist. It is important to note that individuals may have a cause of action even if the cause of the mistake was a machine error, not human. Depending on the specific facts, the pharmacy may still be held liable for failing to inspect the machinery or missing the mistakes.
Get in Contact with a Maryland Pharmacy Error Attorney Today
If you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering due to a Maryland pharmacy error, contact the personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, today. Our attorneys can work with you to figure out whether you have a case and how best to bring it. With our help, you may be able to obtain the compensation you need to fully recover for your injuries and move on with your life. Call us today to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys—we would love to work with you. We can be reached at 800-654-1949.