Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
Most Maryland residents find themselves visiting a pharmacy at one point or another. Medications—whether continual or short-term—are a big part of many people’s health and well-being. And ideally, pharmacists and pharmacies help to keep Maryland patients safe and healthy. But sometimes mistakes are made, and these pharmacy errors can cause significant harm to patients. In fact, Maryland pharmacy errors are more common than most people think and can happen to anyone. Recently, however, the Pharmacy Times published an online article about how specialty pharmacists play an important role in increasing patient safety.
Specialty pharmacies, according to the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, are distinct from traditional pharmacies and are designed to efficiently deliver medications that have special handling, storage, and distribution requirements. They are also designed to improve outcomes for patients that have complex, potentially chronic and rare conditions. Typically, patients taking specialty medications require more complex services than those required for a traditional drug, and so specialty pharmacists step in to meet those needs.
According to the Pharmacy Times, specialty pharmacists have a unique role in medication safety. Not only do they take responsibility for ensuring the safe and effective use of specialty medications, but they also play a strong role in promoting a positive safety culture within their specific pharmacy. One of the factors pointed towards as causing pharmacy errors is the culture within the pharmacy. Oftentimes, pharmacists are overworked, hurried, and stressed out, and they may sacrifice safety for speed or fail to engage in regular safety precautions. The Pharmacy Times reports that because specialty pharmacists, working with high-risk specialty medications, often incorporate robust programs to ensure proper medication usage and minimize the potential for error, can be really helpful in setting the tone and expectation for safety in typical pharmacy settings. Additionally, specialty pharmacists can encourage the actual reporting of errors within pharmacies when they do happen, which is critical for addressing the root cause of the problem and making sure the same errors do not continue to happen.
Do Specialty Pharmacists Make Fewer Errors than Traditional Pharmacists?
While specialty pharmacists may fill fewer orders and are generally not overburdened as much as traditional pharmacists, there is no guarantee that specialty pharmacists can eliminate Maryland pharmacy errors altogether. So, Maryland residents should be aware that if they do suffer harm from a pharmacy error, they are able to file a personal injury lawsuit under state law against the negligent pharmacy or pharmacist. These lawsuits do not aim at punishing the pharmacy, but rather at holding them responsible for the actual harm they caused and at helping the victim recover.
Get Started Filing a Maryland Pharmacy Error Lawsuit Today
If you or someone close to you has recently suffered from a Maryland pharmacy error, you should make sure you are aware of your legal options and rights. Call the personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, today to get started with a free initial consultation. Our attorneys are here to answer your questions and help you through every step of your lawsuit. To learn more, call us today at 800-654-1949 or take a moment to fill out our online form and one of our attorneys will reach out to you.