Medication Errors and Medical Malpractice

Every year, millions of medical errors occur across the United States. There has been a significant increase in the number of people getting treatment for medication errors in recent years - an increase of more than 50%. As per the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, over 1.5 million people across the country became injured or ill due to the side effects of medication or because they were prescribed or took the wrong dose or type of medication in 2008.

In 2006, a report was issued by the Institute of Medicine, citing medication errors as the most common errors in the medical industry. These medication errors led to an estimated $3.5 billion in additional expenses for productivity, lost wages and added health care expenses.

Medication Errors Malpractice Claims

Medication errors can occur in many different ways, starting from the first prescription to the administering of the medication. For instance, a patient may be harmed or injured, if the wrong medication is prescribed by the doctor. Or a patient may suffer harm or injury if the doctor prescribes medication for a misdiagnosed condition. There are also cases when a drug is given to the wrong patient.

Medication errors can have devastating results for patients. It can lead to serious side effects, further health complications, loss of ability to work, loss of income, high medical expenses, and even death. A patient has the right to file a medical malpractice lawsuit for medication error. Complex rules regulate medical malpractice cases and these rules can vary from state to state. It is vital to acquire assistance from an experienced and skilled attorney as malpractice cases can be complex and last months, even years.

Liability

Physicians and nurses can be liable for prescribing the wrong medication. They can also be liable for administering the wrong dose. This can be dangerous for a patient as it can have serious consequences. Making a mistake in dosage even by a decimal point could lead to a patient being administered a medication that is a hundred times too much or a hundred times too little.

Physicians and nurses can also be liable for not administering medication the proper way. Different medication is administered in different ways. For example, different medications have to be injected into different parts of the body. A nurse may inject a drug in the wrong place. This would make the nurse liable in a malpractice lawsuit.

There can also be liability for bad handwriting. This is a serious matter, because if the prescription is misread by the pharmacist, the wrong medication will be given to the patient. The healthcare professional who wrote the prescription will be held liable. Fortunately, this type of liability is on its way out as electronic prescriptions are becoming more common.

The most Remarkable Law Firm in the Big Apple

If you or a loved one has been harmed due to medication error, you should seek the legal assistance of the exceptional medical malpractice lawyers at Rosenberg, Minc, Falloff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000.

We have won millions of dollars for past clients. You too can be on this wonderful list. We work hard and smart for our clients. We will keep you informed every step of the way. Do not assume anything though, give us a call so we can hear what you have to say and if you have a viable case against this hospital or medical professional. We know how to attack the opposition and we know what a winning case resembles. If you hire us to represent you, you are making the right choice for a variety of reasons.

RMFW Law knows how to start a case and knows how to finish one. We look forward to hearing from you.