Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
Many people take some form of medication on a daily basis. Whether it is a short stretch of antibiotics or a daily pill to help with your blood pressure, recipients of medications should be able to reasonably trust that their pharmacies and healthcare providers are giving them proper care. Sometimes, however, even pharmacists and professionals are prone to errors. These errors, however, can often have devastating consequences if they involve medications. Maryland pharmacies can be held accountable for the errors they make.
According to a recent report summarizing common medication errors in long-term care facilities, pharmacists are essential as gatekeepers in the proactive prevention of prescription errors. Some of the most common medication errors include issues with dispensing, delays in delivery, and expired inventory.
What Are the Most Common Dispensing Errors?
Dispensing errors in long-term facilities often include incorrect dosages, incorrect drugs, incorrect patients, incorrect routes, or incorrect times. Many times, pharmacists will mix up lookalike and soundalike drugs in pharmacies. In addition, incorrect packaging can also result in dispensing errors.
Delays in delivery can also lead to pharmacy medication errors in long-term facilities. Pharmacies, however, can easily address these issues by facilitating effective and open communication with their staff. Sometimes, delays occur because of staff shortages, failure to send delivery drivers in time, or high prescription volume demand and low supply.
Finally, expired inventory can often yield dangerous consequences for patients in long-term facilities. Pharmacists can easily prevent these issues, however, by conducting proactive checks of existing inventory. In addition, when filling prescriptions, staff should always check expiration dates before handing them off to pharmacists to review or to patients.
Unfortunately, pharmacy medication errors are prevalent all over the country and are not only limited to long-term care facilities. Maryland is also no stranger to these issues.
Maryland residents should understand that pharmacy errors, in addition to the three most common types mentioned above, can also occur when pharmacists fail to warn patients of risks or side effects of drugs, fail to consider a patient’s medical history or prescribe a dangerous combination of medication.
In Maryland, medical providers, pharmacies, and pharmacists may be held liable for negligence if medication errors cause patients to experience allergic reactions, significant side effects, or injury. In addition, medication errors can also deprive patients of necessary, life-sustaining medication—which can have dangerous consequences. Because these cases can often be complex and involve challenging legal issues and facts, potential plaintiffs are advised to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to help them navigate their claims.
Have You Experienced a Maryland Medication Error Because of a Pharmacist or Medical Provider’s Negligence?
If you or someone you know recently experienced a Maryland medication error because of the negligence of a Maryland healthcare provider or pharmacist, contact the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen today. Our team of pharmacy error lawyers has represented clients in all types of claims and will help you navigate your lawsuit with ease. To learn more about your rights and how to pursue them, schedule a free initial consultation today by contacting us at 800-654-1949.