Medication errors can lead to devastating consequences and are serious examples of medical malpractice. When these mistakes occur, they represent negligent and careless behavior by medical professionals who you trusted to take care of you and look out for your best interests.
The caregiver’s duty is to prescribe or administer the proper medications in the right dose to ensure a patient’s safety. It does not matter whether the caregiver is distracted, overworked, careless, or in a hurry—breaching this duty and causing direct harm to the patient is negligent. If you or your loved one received the wrong medication or dosage and suffered because of it, an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help.
At Friedman Schuman Layser, our Fort Washington medication error lawyers can determine your next move during a consultation. We take cases across the state of Pennsylvania, so call today to schedule your appointment.
What Are Medication Errors?
Although physicians and pharmacists write or fill prescriptions that could end up harming patients, medication errors are most common among caregivers administering the medication, often in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Many nursing home residents can take several prescribed medications daily.
In Pennsylvania, nursing home residents must receive a minimum of three hours and 12 minutes of direct care during a 24-hour period. Nursing homes must be staffed with one nursing assistant for every 12 residents and one licensed practical nurse (LPN) for every 25 residents during the day. Overnight shifts require one aide for every 20 residents. Considering these aides and LPNs must organize and administer numerous pills for multiple patients as just one of their duties, it is easy to see how medication errors can occur, especially if any of these caregivers call in sick or resign, leaving the facility understaffed.
Some common medication errors include:
- A physician misdiagnoses a patient and then prescribes the wrong medicine
- A physician prescribes a medication the patient is allergic to
- A physician prescribes narcotics to a patient they should know has been addicted to them in the past
- A nurse injects a medication into a vein when it is supposed to be injected under the skin
- A nursing home caregiver forgets to log a resident’s medication, and it is administered again by another caregiver
- A nurse’s aide administers the wrong medication to an assisted living resident
- A pharmacist interprets a physician’s prescription incorrectly and provides a much higher dose of the medication than intended
A medication error can be devastating. Possible resulting harm includes organ failure, a worsened existing condition, allergic reactions, overdoses, and even death. Our medication error attorneys in Fort Washington can assess your medical history and current records, investigate how an error occurred, talk to witnesses, and consult with experts when necessary.
We can identify defendants, which include hospitals, nursing homes, and drug manufacturers, and build an airtight case. We are here to get you justice and compensation for the harm that someone caused you.
Statute of Limitations
If a patient suffers from a medication error, they can file a lawsuit, but they must initiate it within two years of the negligent act or from the date they discover harm was done. However, exceptions can apply, which a lawyer can further explain.
Additionally, the patient must file a certificate of merit, which is a signed statement by a licensed professional acknowledging that the individual who made the error likely acted below an acceptable standard. Our Fort Washington lawyers can keep track of all deadlines to ensure your medication error case moves forward.
Call Our Fort Washington Attorneys To Get Help After a Medication Error
You entrust your health and safety to your medical team, and you expect competent care in return. When careless errors are made and you are harmed as a result, someone should be held accountable.
At Friedman Schuman Layser, our attorneys are skilled at handling medical malpractice matters all across the state. Schedule an appointment at our Fort Washington office today with our medication error lawyers for an assessment of your case.