Medical malpractice is the third-leading cause of death in America, a shocking statistic that many people are unaware of. There are numerous different scenarios that may lead to medical malpractice, from doctor negligence or leaving items in a surgery patient to pharmacy errors. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a safety advisory to doctors, pharmacists, and patients because of an increase in drug mix-ups and improper dosage. In the warning the FDA encouraged all parties to make sure they check both the prescription and the label on all medicine bottles before taking a new drug. This safety advisory came after numerous reports of prescription errors regarding drugs with similar sounding names, but completely different purposes.
There are nearly 4 billion prescriptions for medication filled every single year in the United States, many of which are done by Walgreens, CVS, or a grocery store pharmacy. Unfortunately, every year, millions of Americans suffer because of a pharmacy error or negligence on the part of those filling the prescription. This is a growing problem that Americans must be made aware of in order to protect their health. When we go to the doctor or pick up a prescription from the pharmacy, we assume the person on the other side is well-equipped to do their job. However, in recent years we have seen numerous incompetencies that have led to injury, illness, and death. The number of prescription errors in Texas and the nation has increased over the last several years. Experts only expect this problem to continue.
Preventing Pharmacy Errors
While medical negligence is a very real and growing problem in the United States, pharmacy errors are often preventable. It shouldn’t be that difficult for a pharmacy tech to receive a prescription request from a doctor and fill it correctly, but apparently, it is. Therefore, the implementation of appropriate safety procedures is a must. Pharmacy errors are often serious and can have catastrophic results.
Some of the most common pharmacy errors that can lead to a medical malpractice claim include:
- Administering the wrong medication
- Mislabeling the medication
- Giving the patient an incorrect dosage
- Prescribing a patient a medication that can negatively interact with other drugs the patient is taking
- Failure to warn patients about the known, serious side effects of a drug
Prescription drug errors can range from minor discomfort to death, which is why it is so important we take the time to educate one another about this nationwide problem. If you or a loved one is the victim of a pharmacy error or medical negligence, please contact Wormington & Bollinger today. As a medical malpractice law firm, we are here to represent you and ensure justice is served.