Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
Prescription medications are often dangerous drugs that are subject to government regulation, due to the potential harm they can cause when taken in a manner inconsistent with their therapeutic use. While the majority of pharmacy errors do not result in serious patient injuries, the reality is that there are a significant number of errors each year that do result in serious injuries or death. Often, the pharmacists responsible for these errors are subject to professional sanctions as a result of the error. However, these sanctions often seem insignificant compared to the injury or loss suffered by the victims of pharmacists’ mistakes.
Last year, an elderly woman died as a result of taking five times the prescribed dose of an immuno-suppressant medication. According to a local news report covering the tragic death, the woman was provided the medication by a local pharmacy. Evidently, the prescription was initially incorrectly filled by a new technician. The supervising pharmacist caught the error and directed the technician to fix it. However, the technician failed to correct the mistake, and the pharmacist never double-checked the technician’s work.
After taking the medication as directed by the pharmacy, the woman began to suffer serious symptoms, ultimately resulting in several infections. Sadly, the woman suffered for several weeks following the error before ultimately dying as a result of the numerous infections in her body.
After an investigation conducted by the supervising board that oversees pharmacists, the pharmacist was fined $12,500 and had his license suspended for two months. According to the news report, the family of the deceased patient would like to see the pharmacist’s license permanently revoked, but that outcome is unlikely.
Seeking Compensation for your Loss Following a Pharmacy Error
The professional sanctions that follow a pharmacy error may do little to comfort those affected by the pharmacist’s negligence. Thankfully, the law provides an avenue for relief for the victims of pharmacy mistakes through a personal injury lawsuit.
Pharmacists have a general duty to ensure that they fill prescriptions as ordered by a patient’s physician. In addition, it is a pharmacist’s duty to double-check all of the medications a patient is taking to ensure that they do not take two medications that may result in an adverse reaction. When a pharmacist fails to live up to this standard, they may be held liable as a result. Anyone injured by a pharmacist’s error should seek out dedicated counsel to discuss their case.
Have You Been a Victim of a Pharmacist’s Mistake?
If you or a loved one has recently been a victim of a pharmacy error, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled personal injury attorneys at the Maryland law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience helping injured clients seek the compensation they deserve. Call 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation with a dedicated personal injury attorney to discuss your case.
More Blog Posts:
Registered Nurses Too Often Fail as a Last Line of Defense Against Medication Errors, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, January 23, 2017.
New Study Shows that Many Pharmacies Fail to Detect Clearly Dangerous Drug Combinations When Filling Prescriptions, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, January 2, 2017.