Suffered from Prescription Drug Error in New York?
Doctors and pharmacists are required to make reasonable, sound judgments regarding what types of drugs to administer to patients. The utmost care must be taken when prescribing and administering all drugs. When mistakes are made, the patient can suffer potentially dangerous or even lethal effects. Medication errors are entirely preventable. Patients or families who suffer the adverse effects of medical errors would be well advised to better understand their legal rights and options.
The experienced New York City personal injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP are committed to protecting and upholding the rights of those who have been seriously injured as a result of someone else's negligence or wrongdoing. If you or someone you love has been harmed by the actions of a physician, hospital or pharmacist, please contact us at (212) 986-7353 to find out how we can help you.
Protecting New York Patients' Rights
When a patient is injured or harmed by a negligent doctor, nurse or pharmacist's actions, it may be grounds for a medical malpractice claim. Their negligence may involve failure to follow protocols and procedures to prevent pharmaceutical errors as well as failure to treat or manage a medication overdose. Depending on the circumstances of the medication errors, a hospital, the hospital's staff, a pharmacy or another medical care provider could be held liable.
Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, pain and suffering and cost of additional treatments. A family that has lost a loved one as the result of a medication error can also file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages such as medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering and lost future income.
What is a Medication Error?
According to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, a medication error is defined as "any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer."
By some reports, medication errors result in more annual deaths than car accidents. According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, at least 1.5 million people are hurt by medication errors every year. Approximately 400,000 preventable medication errors occur at hospitals annually and another 800,000 occur in long-term care settings and 530,000 involve Medicare recipients in outpatient clinics.
When and How Do Errors Occur?
Medication errors can occur when the right drug is administered, but the dosage is incorrect. Errors could involve the administration of the wrong drug or a failure to give the appropriate dose in a timely manner. Some errors are minor and the patient is able to recover despite adverse effects. Other medication errors, however, can result in serious or even fatal injuries.
Medication errors can happen at any stage of administering drugs. Here are some of the scenarios in which they occur:
- Medication errors can occur when the wrong medication is prescribed.
- Patients could suffer irreversible effects when incorrect medication is dispensed.
- Incorrect dosing information posted by the drug manufacturer can also result in serious injury or harm to patients.
- Miscommunication between doctors and pharmacists can sometimes result in the wrong medication being dispensed.
- Patients must be monitored in order to recognize how they are reacting to the drugs. When an adverse reaction is not identified right away, the consequences can be devastating.
- Failure to recognize drug allergies can be lethal as well.
- Patients should be informed about the potential side effects of the drugs they are taking so that they can make the right choices about their course of treatment.
- Mislabeled drugs and mistakes made during transcription also commonly lead to medication errors.
Contact the New York Attorneys at WRSMH
An experienced lawyer who has successfully handled similar medical malpractice claims will be able to help evaluate the circumstances of your injury or a loved one's death. Your attorney will work with accredited medical experts to determine whether all healthcare standards were met.
The knowledgeable New York medication error lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP will diligently work toward helping you obtain maximum compensation for your serious injuries and losses. If you have concerns about the medication you or a loved one received or if you suspect negligence, please contact us at (212) 986-7353 for a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation.
NY Medication Error Verdicts & Settlements
$4.25 Million - Medication Error
$500,000 - Hearing Loss from Medication Overdose
$200,000 - Drug Reaction