Medication errors occur much more frequently than most people realize. In a hectic city such as New York, the wrong kind of mistake can have disastrous results. A doctor, nurse, or pharmacist might inadvertently mix the wrong drugs or administer the wrong dose. When this goes wrong, patients can experience severe side effects or even life-threatening complications.
If you suspect that you were given the wrong medicine or amount of medicine, you must know who may be to blame and what actions you should consider taking next.
Understanding How Medication Errors Happen
Medication errors can happen at multiple stages of the treatment. A doctor may write the wrong prescription or overlook a patient’s allergies. A pharmacist may misread the prescription or unwittingly administer the wrong drug. Nurses, too, can make mistakes during hospitalization when managing several patients at once. Sometimes, a bit of technology is at fault as well — even an accidental typo in an electronic medical record can trigger a dangerous mix-up.
In every case, you would need careful parsing to determine who was at fault for the mistake. For example, if a physician prescribes an improper dose, he or she might be responsible. But if the prescription was accurate and the pharmacy filled it wrong, then possibly there could be some liability on the part of the pharmacist. Hospitals may also be liable if they failed to follow safety protocols. If you’re not sure what to do, schedule a consultation with The Law Office of Olena Manilich. We can help to research and explain your options.
Real-World Examples and Costs
What if a pharmacy label error meant that a patient got ten times the prescribed dose of heart medication? That person may have an urgent need for medical attention, hospitalization, or possibly long-term cardiac care. Medical costs in such cases can cost anywhere from $10,000 to over $100,000, depending on the degree of injury. In other instances, a doctor might prescribe a drug that interacts dangerously with another medication the patient is already on. The result could be internal bleeding or organ failure that can require surgery and a long recovery time.
The consequences of those errors in judgment can be crushing. They frequently lose weeks of work and rack up substantial medical bills, not to mention the physical pain they endure. Our practice assists victims and their families in recovering for those losses, including medical bills, missed work, and emotional anguish. If you were the victim of a medication error, contact us to discuss how much your claim might be worth with our NYC medical malpractice lawyers.
What You Can Do If You Received the Wrong Medication
If you suspect a medication error, take action. If you have any signs that suggest there might be something wrong, it is important to contact and see a clinician straight away. Request complete records of your prescriptions and care from your health providers. Save the packaging, receipts, if any, and instructions you get with the medicine. These records can help demonstrate where the error was made and who might be responsible.
When you are healthy enough, consult with an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice. A lawyer can verify if the mistake would qualify as malpractice and make sure that all liable parties are brought to justice. As your lawyer, we take the time to listen and to carefully review all aspects of your claim, steering you through every step of the process, as we demand compensation on your behalf.
Moving Forward After a Medication Error
Medication errors can rattle your faith in the health care system. Doctors and pharmacists are supposed to safeguard your health, not endanger it. When that trust is violated, you have the right to demand justice. Suing also serves as a deterrent to incorrect behavior in the future.
If you received the wrong medication — don’t go through it alone. Schedule a consultation with The Law Office of Olena Manilich in New York City with an experienced medical negligence attorney. We will explain your rights, discuss all of our options, and move forward with recovery.
