Medical Malpractice Lawyers - Prescription Errors

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 45% of the U.S. population is currently taking a prescription drug or has taken one within the past month. This means that over one billion prescriptions are written each year during physician visits, emergency room visits, therapy sessions and other types of health-related doctor appointments.

Unfortunately, many patients are at risk of falling victim to prescription errors. Studies estimate that prescription errors cause over one million injuries or wrongful deaths in the U.S. every year and that the majority of the victims are patients in hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. When this happens, medical malpractice lawsuits can and should be filed.

Types of Common Prescription Errors

Some of the most common prescription errors include:

• Physicians prescribing the wrong medication
• Physicians prescribing the right medication in the wrong dosage
• Physicians prescribing a medication that is dangerous to take with other medications you are taking
• Pharmacists filling the wrong prescription or dosage
• Pharmacists giving patients the wrong instructions for taking the medications

Reasons for Common Prescription Errors

Although none of these reasons are excusable, there are many contributing factors to prescription errors, including:

• Similar drug names and confusing drug suffixes like SR or XL
• Illegible or poor handwriting on the prescription
• Overworked, distracted and frequently interrupted pharmacists
• Inexperienced pharmacists or pharmacy technicians

Prescription Error Liability & Lawsuits

Regardless of what kind of prescription error occurs, or what contributed to it taking place, victims have the right to seek legal redress for their injuries. The medical malpractice lawyers of Phoenix-based Snyder & Wenner, P.C. can help you do this.

Utilizing medical experts, we will help you thoroughly investigate the cause of the prescription error and who is at fault. If we can find evidence of negligence, you may be entitled to collect damages for:

• Bodily injuries
• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future lost wages
• Pain, suffering, disability, disfigurement and emotional distress
• Loss of companionship

If you would like to learn more about filing a lawsuit related to prescription errors, please contact us. Although prescription errors can happen anywhere, from our Phoenix office we can investigate the circumstances and start building a case for you. The first step would be for you to schedule a free medical malpractice case evaluation by emailing us, or calling us at 602.224.0005.