Medical Malpractice Claims Involving Drug Errors

The Different Ways You Can Suffer Injury from a Medication Mistake

When properly prescribed, pharmaceutical products can go a long way toward promoting quality of life. Unfortunately, many prescription and over-the-counter drugs have relatively small margins for error—too much or too little can have serious health consequences. The reality—it happens far too often.

The Common Types of Drug or Medication Mistakes

There are many factors that contribute to pharmaceutical errors—many drugs have similar names, doctors see many patients, support staff may be less than diligent in reading charts or prescriptions. Here are the most frequent instances of medication error:

• You may have drug allergies, experience side effects about which you weren’t warned, or may be prescribed drugs that negatively interact with other medications you are taking—A doctor or nurse may fail to do a proper workup on your case, and may prescribe a drug that worsens a pre-existing condition, or that harmfully interacts with other medication you are taking.
• Your physician may neglect to consider your age, weight or other factors when prescribing a drug, causing you to take doses that are either too strong or not effective.
• Your physician may confuse you with another patient, or may incorrectly diagnose your condition. Your doctor may fail to run necessary tests to determine what is wrong with you.
• Many hospitals and clinics operate without sufficient staffing of nurses. As a consequence, nurses may neglect to verify whether you have already received medication, leading to over or under-administration of drugs. Hospitals can also fail to put procedures in place to ensure that medications are properly administered. In some medical facilities, nurses may simply not have enough time to ensure that all patients get pharmaceutical products in a time manner.
• A doctor may be in a hurry or distracted by another case, and may either write illegibly or prescribe the wrong medication or dosage.

Contact Attorney Gregg A. Wisotsky—Partner at Javerbaum, Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins, PC

I offer a free phone consultation to every prospective client. For a complimentary evaluation of your case, contact my office online or call me at 973-241-7468. I will come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary. All major credit cards are accepted.