Pharmacy errors can have severe consequences for patients, both in the short- and long-term. These errors can occur at any stage of the medication process – from prescribing and dispensing to administering and monitoring. The alarming truth is that such errors are more common than we think. With the rise of online pharmacies and mail-order prescriptions, the risk of pharmacy errors has only increased.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a pharmacy error, it is crucial to seek legal help. At Davis & Davis, we understand the complexities of medical malpractice cases involving pharmacy errors, and we have a team of experienced attorneys who can help you seek justice.
5 Types of Pharmacy Errors That May Lead to Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice can result from many different negligent practices, such as:
Giving the Wrong Medication
Handing out the incorrect medication is a serious slip that can lead to dangerous health issues for patients. This mistake might happen when pharmacists misread a doctor’s handwriting or confuse drugs with similar names.
This error doesn’t just affect the patient’s health – it shakes their confidence in the healthcare system. Ensuring accurate medication involves double-checking prescriptions and patient information, a step that can’t be overlooked in the hustle of a busy pharmacy environment.
Dosage Mistakes
Dosage mistakes happen when patients receive either too much or too little of a medication, which can seriously mess with their treatment and health. This could be due to a typo when inputting the prescription, misunderstanding the doctor’s orders, or even a mix-up in the medication’s strength.
Imagine taking a dose meant to calm severe pain and ending up with something that barely scratches the surface, or worse, taking a stronger dose and facing dangerous side effects. It’s crucial for pharmacists to double-check every detail to prevent such risky errors.
Failing to Catch Drug Interactions
Pharmacists play a critical role in spotting potential dangerous interactions between medications. When this duty is neglected, patients are at risk of experiencing harmful side effects or reduced effectiveness of their treatments.
This kind of oversight can occur if a pharmacist is under pressure, overlooks a patient’s medication history, or isn’t fully aware of all the possible drug interactions. For instance, combining two types of blood thinners could lead to excessive bleeding, a serious health threat. Vigilant review of all medications a patient is taking is essential to safeguard their health and well-being.
Mislabeling Medications
Mislabeling medications is another common pharmacy error with potentially dangerous outcomes. This happens when the information on a medication’s label is incorrect, leading to confusion about dosage, usage instructions, or even the medicine’s identity.
Such mistakes can occur during the packaging process in a busy pharmacy setting or when the pharmacist transcribes information from the prescription to the medication container incorrectly. Patients relying on the label for guidance might take their medication improperly, posing serious health risks.
Poor Communication and Counseling
When pharmacists don’t take the time to talk with patients about how to correctly use their medications, this lack of communication might lead to patients taking their medication at the wrong time, with the wrong foods, or misunderstanding side effects.
Good communication ensures that patients are fully informed about their medication’s effects, potential side effects, and how to manage them.
Seriously Injured by a Pharmacist’s Error? Contact the Medical Malpractice Lawyers of Davis & Davis Today
If you’ve suffered due to a pharmacy error, don’t navigate the aftermath alone. The team at Davis & Davis is here to support and guide you through the legal process, ensuring your case is handled with the attention it deserves. Whether it’s a dosage mishap, wrong medication, or any other pharmacy-related error, our experienced medical malpractice lawyers are ready to fight for your rights.
Don’t wait to seek the justice you deserve. Reach out to us by calling (888) 522-9444 or by filling out our contact form. Together, we can take the steps necessary to make things right.
