What Are Pharmacy Errors?
Medication errors occur during the process of prescribing, preparing, dispensing, or taking medication, and they can result in serious patient harm. These errors can happen at various stages, including when a drug is improperly prescribed, dispensed, or taken improperly by the patient due to missing or incorrect label instructions, discharge instructions, or other errors by medical professionals.
Mistakes could arise from incorrect information being entered into a computer system by a user or on the manufacturer’s or distributer’s side when a mistake results in mislabeling or other mistakes.
If a pharmacy error in Wilkes-Barre has harmed you or a loved one, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Talk to a Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice lawyer at Munley Law today to determine your eligible compensation.
Common Types of Medication Errors in Wilkes-Barre
There are several types of medication errors, including:
- Prescribing Errors: Mistakes made when prescribing a medication, such as incorrect dosage or the wrong drug.
- Failure to Prescribe, Administer, or Dispense Medication: Neglecting to prescribe, administer, or dispense necessary medication.
- Timing Errors: Providing medication too early or too late affects its effectiveness.
- Unauthorized Medication: Giving a wrong patient a drug that was not prescribed to them.
- Improper Medication Use: Incorrect use of a prescribed drug, such as using it for a different purpose than intended.
- Incorrect Dosage: Prescribing or preparing the wrong dose of a medication.
- Administration Errors: Mistakes made during the administration of the medication, such as using the wrong method or technique.
If the wrong medication has harmed you or a loved one, whether through the wrong dosage or another inappropriate medication mistake, talk to an experienced Wilkes Barre medical malpractice attorney at Munley Law for a free case evaluation today.
Compensation for Wilkes-Barre Pharmacy Error Victims
You might be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and losses if you or a loved one has been harmed due to a pharmacy error. There are two main categories of compensation:
Economic Damages
- Medical Expenses: You can be compensated for the immediate medical costs incurred as a direct result of the pharmacy error, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, and medications needed to correct the mistake. Additionally, if the error has led to long-term or ongoing health issues, you may also be entitled to compensation for future medical treatments, therapies, and rehabilitation that you might require.
- Lost Wages: If the injury caused by the pharmacy error forced you to miss work, you may be entitled to recover the wages you lost during your recovery period. Furthermore, if the error has permanently impacted your ability to work or earn the same income as before, you may be compensated for the reduction in your future earning potential.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and discomfort you endured due to the error can also be grounds for compensation. Additionally, emotional distress, including the psychological impact such as anxiety, depression, or trauma, may be taken into account when determining the amount of compensation owed.
- Disability and Disfigurement: In cases where the pharmacy error resulted in a permanent disability, you may be entitled to compensation for the ongoing impact on your life and livelihood. If the error caused permanent scarring or other forms of disfigurement, you could also receive compensation for the effect this has had on your appearance and self-esteem.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If the pharmacy error has diminished your ability to enjoy activities, hobbies, or other aspects of your life that were previously important to you, you may receive compensation for the reduction in your quality of life.
- Punitive Damages: In situations where the pharmacy error resulted from particularly reckless or egregious behavior, punitive damages might be awarded. These are intended to punish the responsible party and deter similar conduct in the future.
- Wrongful Death: If a pharmacy error led to the death of a loved one, the surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and other damages related to the wrongful death.
Who Can Be Sued for Pharmacy Errors in Wilkes-Barre?
There can be multiple potentially responsible parties for a medical malpractice claim for medication errors, including:
- Pharmacists: As the professionals responsible for dispensing medications, pharmacists must ensure that patients receive the correct medication, dosage, and instructions. If a pharmacist makes an error—such as dispensing the wrong medication or incorrect dosage or failing to check for harmful drug interactions—they can be liable for any resulting harm.
- Pharmacy Technicians: Pharmacy technicians often assist pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medications. If a pharmacy technician makes an error during the preparation, labeling, or dispensing process, they can be liable for dispensing incorrect medication.
- The Pharmacy: Pharmacies are responsible for ensuring that their operations meet industry standards and that their staff is adequately trained and supervised. The pharmacy can be liable for not providing proper training and supervision if a mistake is made.
- Prescribing Physicians: The physician may be liable if the error originates from a physician prescribing the wrong medication or dosage or failing to consider potential drug interactions or a patient’s medical history.
- Hospitals or Healthcare Facilities: In some cases, the institution may be liable if a pharmacy error occurs within a hospital or healthcare facility.
- Pharmaceutical Companies: In some cases, the error may be due to issues such as incorrect labeling, defective packaging, or misleading information provided by the pharmaceutical company.
Contact Munley Law for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured by a pharmacy error in Wilkes-Barre, you might be considering a medical malpractice lawsuit. Talk to an experienced pharmacy errors attorney at Munley Law today.
We will fight for your maximum compensation. Your initial consultation is free, and you owe us nothing until we win. Call our Wilkes Barre law offices today.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1170 PA-315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 399-0406