There’s a fine line between medication and poison. Being prescribed the wrong medication, or the right medication in the wrong amounts, can lead to a wealth of dangerous side effects. It can even kill the unlucky patient.
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy reports that medication errors harm at least 1.5 million people every year, and that they are the most common kind of medical error. As many of 41% of Americans report being involved in a medical error either personally, or second hand.
Many New Yorkers have been injured by:
- Allergic reactions to medications that doctors should have known might occur.
- Contraindications between drugs that doctors should have known might occur.
- Dangerous side effects brought on by unsafe medications.
- Medication overdoses.
- Dangers brought on from counterfeit medications.
Our law firm helps with personal injury and wrongful death cases brought on by unsafe medications. We also help with class action lawsuits against drug manufacturers.
What causes medication errors?
Common causes of medication errors include:
- Mistakes made because of similarities between the name of the prescribed medication and the name of the given medication.
- Problems reading the doctor’s handwriting.
- Lack of information about the patient’s medical history.
- Medication samples being given without proper monitoring or documentation.
- Pharmacist grabbed the wrong medication by mistake.
- Pharmacist measured the wrong dose by mistake.
- The wrong data got entered into the computer either on the doctor’s end or the pharmacist’s end.
- The patient did not receive adequate instructions or explanations of side effects or proper procedures with the drug.
Who is responsible for medication errors?
When we launch a lawsuit in regard to medication errors, we’re usually suing the physician, pharmacist or pharmacy, the hospital where the medication error took place, or the medical professional who administered the medication.
It takes an in-depth investigation both to pinpoint the responsible party and to prove that they were negligent.
These legal battles are challenging, and you’ll need help from an experienced New York City personal injury attorney or wrongful death attorney if you have any hope of winning them.
Get Help
If a loved one was killed by a medication error, or if you were injured by a medication error, you must act fast. Contact our office to schedule a free case review today.
See also:
Can You Sue After a Product Recall in New York City?
FREE CONSULTATION
Submit this form to have your case reviewed by our attorney.
Meet Mr. Richman
SCOTT B. RICHMAN, ESQ.
Mr. Richman is the Managing Member and Founder of Richman Law Firm PLLC. In his role as Managing Member, Mr. Richman oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm and handles the litigation of the most complex legal matters across a vast array of practice areas and disciplines.
