Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
When most people think of pharmacy errors, they think of a busy pharmacist behind the counter at a grocery store or retail pharmacy. However, pharmacy errors occur in all shapes and sizes and at all locations, including errors in medications that are administered in the hospital by medical professionals. Many of these errors include injectable medications that are given to the patient through an IV.
Of course, the ultimate burden of ensuring that a medication is safely administered to the patient lies with the pharmacist and, in cases of inpatient care, also with the nurse or doctor administering the medication to the patient. Whenever a patient is given the wrong medication or even the wrong dose of the correct medication, that patient may suffer a serious adverse reaction, potentially resulting in serious injuries or even death. In these circumstances, the patient or their family may be entitled to monetary compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. This is among the reasons that pharmaceutical companies take the possibility of errors involving their medication very seriously.
Pharmaceutical Company Develops System to Reduce Error Rates among Injectable Medications
It is estimated that the total number of errors involving injectable medications is roughly 1.2 million per year, making these errors not as uncommon as most people think. The cost of injectable medication errors reaches into the $5 billion range, and this figure cannot accurately take into account the pain and suffering of the patients and families involved. Because of the severity and frequency of these errors, one pharmaceutical company developed a specialized system to help combat injectable medication errors at hospitals across the country.
According to one industry news source reporting the system and its effectiveness at reducing pharmacy errors, the system has alerted pharmacists to over three million errors before the medication was administered to the patient. The system works to digitalize information regarding the routing, preparation, inspection, tracking, and reporting of the IV drugs before they are provided to patients. The computerized system also allows for pharmacists to double-check a technician’s work remotely by using barcodes and predetermined formulas, increasing the efficiency of the medical facility across the board.
Have You Been a Victim of a Pharmacy Error?
If you or a loved one has recently been a victim of a pharmacy error, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. However, it is important to keep in mind that these cases can be extremely complex and may require the testimony of a medical or scientific expert. The skilled personal injury attorneys at the Maryland law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience evaluating, preparing, and litigating all kinds of cases involving pharmacy errors. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation with a dedicated and knowledgeable attorney who will be happy to discuss your case with you. Calling is free and will not result in any obligation on your part unless we are able to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
More Blog Posts:
Court Holds Insurance Company Must Defend Lawsuit Against Medication Distributor, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, August 1, 2016.
Major Pharmacy Chain Must Pay $3.5 Million after Allegations of Forged Prescriptions, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, July 8, 2016.