Careless mistakes can lead to serious injuries or even death

Every year, thousands of patients receive incorrect medication or medication dosage through no fault of their own. They put their trust in a pharmacist, only to find out too late that the drug they received was wrong. As a result, they may be left with serious injuries, some of which may require medical treatment. Such events occur when the prescribing physician is careless or the pharmacist is negligent in dispensing the drug.

Whatever the case, if this happened to you or a loved one, you will want an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side to help recover proper and just compensation for all losses.

Examples of Pharmacy Malpractice

To give you a better understanding of the variety of pharmaceutical mistakes that can occur, consider the following examples:

The dose prescribed is too high or too low for the patient’s needs
The dosage on the bottle was different from the dosage of the actual medication
Patient is prescribed a drug that has adverse effects with another medication they’re taking
Patient was prescribed a medication that is known to react adversely with a certain medical condition they have
The label of the prescribed drug is correct, but the medication inside isn’t
A similar-sounding medication was prescribed by mistake
Somebody else’s prescription was handed out to the patient
The medication had expired at the time of pickup
It was prescribed too soon or too late
Incorrect directions for taking the medication were given
The pharmacy staff responded incorrectly to the patient’s question regarding the medication, affecting how they take it
There was missing information on the medication bottle, such as warnings, active ingredients, or directions

What you should do if you receive incorrect medication

If you or a loved one ever receive an incorrect drug or an incorrect amount of drug which is a danger to health, this is what you should do immediately:

Do not delay any actions here.
If you ingested the medication, then contact poison control or call 911 for medical attention.
Make a list of all the medications you are currently taking, and also write down the medication you were given in error.
Do not throw anything away, including the medication bottle, the actual medication, the prescription paper, any warnings or paperwork given with the medication, labels, etc.

Receive Medical Attention.

If you ingested the medication, contact poison control or call 911 for medical attention. Do not wait.

Taking the wrong medication, being given the incorrect dosage, or taking an expired drug can cause adverse effects. Serious medical conditions, long-term disabilities, or even death may result. In pregnant women, the wrong medication can potentially lead to birth defects, miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth.

Getting help sooner rather than later can reduce the severity of side effects - or even save your life. Even if you don’t notice any side effects, seeking medical attention is still important to be on the safe side.

Document What You Can

Make a list of all the medications you are currently taking, and write down the medication you were given in error. Jot down any side effects you’ve been experiencing as a result of taking the medication, along with the dates and times.

If there were any physical changes to your body, be sure to take pictures and/or videos. Physical side effects may include swelling, rashes, or yellowing of the skin.

This documentation can help your doctor help you. It can also come in handy for legal purposes.

Your medical records - spanning both before and after receiving treatment - can also serve as an important piece of documentation when building your case.

Keep Everything

Do not throw anything away, including the medication bottle, the actual medication, the prescription paper, any warnings or paperwork given with the medication, labels, etc.

Any records of the communication you had with the pharmacy or your physician should also be saved. This can include emails, chat logs, or video or audio recordings you might have taken. An attorney may also be able to obtain access to security camera footage at the pharmacy to listen to the conversation between you and the pharmacy staff at the time of pickup.

If there were phone calls that were made to the pharmacy or physician proving their negligence, an attorney may be granted access to recordings if the pharmacy or doctor’s office recorded your call with your consent.

Because documentation and evidence are critical when building a legal case, they must be preserved. An attorney can ensure this vital information is kept safe to ensure you have a solid case with plenty of evidence to prove your claim.

Get in Touch with an Attorney

Getting legal help for pharmacy or physician malpractice is a big yet important step. As intimidating as it might be, an attorney can help you sort through this mess, helping you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Whether you experienced an expensive hospitalization, life-altering side effects, had to call out from work, or lost a loved one as a result of negligence due to a pharmacist or doctor, an attorney is the right person to help.

When you choose to work with an attorney specializing in pharmacy or doctor malpractice, you’re not only helping yourself, but you’re also saving others from being victims of a future mistake.

Not only can medical expenses, pain and suffering, or loss of life be financially recovered, but the associated pharmacist or doctor may end up losing their license and be unable to continue working in the medical or pharmaceutical field.

What we can do for you

Montanez Yu understands how serious negligence in medicine can be. We know how critical it is to act promptly, ensuring our clients are able to reach a settlement as soon as possible. From helping you collect and gather evidence to holding the responsible party accountable, we have a skilled team ready to take action.

Call us today to speak to a licensed personal injury attorney about your injury incident involving a pharmacy mistake and we can take care of your problems from there, including:

Taking over all communication with the pharmacy and/or pharmacist company and their agents.
Resolving governmental liens placed on your case.
Negotiating settlements and bills.
Filing a lawsuit (and appeal) on your behalf if necessary.