(845) 802-0047The Food and Drug Administration defines a medication error as any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of a healthcare provider, patient, or consumer. With the number of powerful medications currently on the market, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists have a responsibility to exercise caution when prescribing and administering medications to patients. However, despite the need for caution medication errors injure over 1.5 million people annually.
For help with handling medicinal mistake cases, get in contact with a dedicated medical malpractice attorney. A Newburgh medication error lawyer could carefully review your case by reviewing your medical records and conducting an independent investigation to determine exactly how a medication error occurred and who is to blame.
Types of Medication Errors
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that nearly half of all adult Americans take a medication daily. This does not account for the medications that are prescribed on an emergency or temporary basis. Therefore, doctors are writing thousands of prescriptions every year which provides ample room for error. Some of the most common medication errors include:
- Lapsed expiration dates
- Failure to advise a patient of risks associated with medication
- Improper medication prescriptions
- Failure to consider adverse drug interactions
- Wrong dosage of a medication
- Failure to prescribe a particular drug, when that drug was accepted medical practice for a particular condition
Medication errors are more than just an inconvenience, but rather can result in serious complications. American Nurse Today reports that medication errors result in at least 7,000 deaths annually and that each error costs an individual between $2,000 and $8,750. For more insight into the different types of medication errors get in contact with a Newburgh medication error lawyer.
Who is Liable for a Newburgh Prescription Error?
Doctors, pharmacists, and healthcare professionals should be working as a team to ensure that a medication error does not occur. Doctors should carefully assess a patient, their ailment, and their medical history when writing a prescription.
A pharmacist should then check that they fill the doctors order properly with the proper medication and the proper dosage. Furthermore, a pharmacist should serve as an additional check to ensure the prescribed medication will not have any adverse reactions when combined with any other medication a patient may be taking.
Other health care professionals such as nurses can also serve as a safety check. They can help ensure that a medication error does not occur by carefully administering a medication and also checking to ensure the patient is receiving the proper dosage.
Work with an Experienced Newburgh Medication Error Attorney
Medical professionals undergo extensive training and education and should take proactive steps to avoid making a medication error. Sadly, medication errors occur every day. However, proving a medication error can be complicated.
A Newburgh medication error lawyer could work with independent medical professionals to review your medical history, diagnosis, and treatment plans to identify a medication error. Furthermore, they could help you recover the expenses associated with a medication error and fight vigorously to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses. Call for more information.