Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a patient to be given the wrong type of medication or the wrong dosage while under the care of a doctor or other healthcare provider. Some medication mistakes do not result in harm to the patient; however, other medication errors can lead to serious and/or permanent injuries or even death.
At Drake & Collopy, P.C., our experienced legal team is dedicated to helping each client recover the compensation they deserve after experiencing a medication error that causes them harm. The first step is to contact us for a free consultation to discuss your situation.
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Who Can Be Held Liable for Medication Errors?
Medication errors can take place at any time a person is receiving treatment from a healthcare provider. Some of the parties who may be liable for these errors include:
Hospital and Hospital Staff
If a nurse or other healthcare professional administers medication improperly or gives a patient the incorrect medication or dosage, the hospital and/or the negligent healthcare providers may be held liable for the error and resulting harm.
Prescribing Doctor
A doctor may prescribe a drug that is not appropriate for the situation or the individual patient. The doctor may fail to take into account other drugs the patient is taking, leading to adverse interactions, or drug allergies the patient may have. In these cases, the doctor may be held liable.
Pharmacy
The pharmacist or pharmacy staff may be responsible for a medication error if the wrong drug is dispensed or the dosage provided is incorrect.
Other Medical Professionals
Other medical professionals participating in the care of a patient may be responsible for a medication error that results from their care. This could include providers like anesthesiologists who administer the wrong medications or incorrect dosages during surgery.
Drug Manufacturers
Sometimes, drugs are designed defectively, which results in patient harm. In other cases, drugs are marketed negligently, or proper warnings are not given.
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The Top Reasons Medication Errors Occur
If a healthcare provider makes a mistake or error with the prescription, administration, dosage, or timing of medication, serious and devastating injuries may occur. Some of the most common causes of medication errors include:
- Hard to read the handwriting on prescription slips
- Not collecting necessary information about the medical history of the patient
- Missing or insufficient information about prescriptions, laboratory values, allergies, and past-dose response
- Misreading of the prescription in the pharmacy
- Medication orders filled with like-sounding names
- Improper medication is provided because records are mixed up
- Switching prescribed medications for a patient accidentally
- Labeling errors
- Mistakes caused by understaffed medical facilities, inexperience, or inattentiveness
- Injection errors
- Failing to monitor the patient’s condition after they are prescribed a medication
Our medication error attorneys at Drake & Collopy, P.C. can investigate the medication error that caused you harm and ensure the needed evidence is obtained to determine who was liable for your injuries.
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Contact Our Legal Team for Help with Your Chicago Medication Error Case
If you have been the victim of a medication error, our experienced team of attorneys is ready to help. We serve victims in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois. Contact us without delay so we can investigate your case and get to work right away to help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to. You can count on our experienced legal team to fight aggressively on your behalf.
