Whether you fall ill, are dealing with chronic pain, or are undergoing surgery, you rely on a physician to prescribe the proper medication. Tragically, medication errors harm over 1.5 million people each year, resulting in 2 million hospitalizations.
When a physician makes a medication error, they should be held accountable for their negligence. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a medication error, you may be entitled to compensation. Our Harrisburg, PA, medication error lawyers have helped hundreds of patients understand their legal options following a prescription mistake and are ready to advocate for you.
Types of Prescription Drug Errors
Prescription drug mistakes are most often completely preventable. Common types of prescription drug errors encompass the following:
Prescribing a Drug That is Contraindicated with Another Drug
When two drugs are contraindicated, it means that taking both drugs together will likely result in adverse side effects. It is up to a physician to get a complete medical history, including all medications that the patient is currently taking. If a physician prescribes a drug that is contraindicated with any of your current medications, it opens the physician up to liability.
Prescribing or Administering the Wrong Dosage
While the reason may be unclear, too often an incorrect drug dosage is administered to patients. Too high or low a dosage can prove fatal, especially if an individual is in critical condition. Sometimes, the cause may simply be that a pharmacist could not read a physician’s handwriting on the prescription.
Prescribing or Administering the Wrong Drug
Taking the wrong medication will do nothing to help with your condition, likely causing further issues. This mix-up often happens when a patient is in the hospital. Whether it be the result of inadequate staffing or miscommunication, if not caught in time it can result in tragic consequences.
Types of Compensation
If you have suffered an injury due to a medication error, you may be entitled to compensation, known as damages. To recover damages, you will need to provide evidence that the physician was negligent or did not take proper care in providing your treatment.
In medical malpractice cases, you will likely be able to collect compensatory damages. These include economic damages (those losses that are easily quantifiable) and non-economic damages (non-pecuniary losses that impact your quality of life).
Economic damages may include:
- Lost income
- Loss of future earnings
- Additional surgeries and treatments that are needed as a result of the medication error
- Home modifications
- Rehabilitative therapy
Non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Infliction of emotional distress
- Loss of companionship and society
- Disfigurement and/or scarring
Unlike other states, Pennsylvania does not place a cap on compensatory damages in a medical malpractice case. However, the state does place a limit on punitive damages.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in medical malpractice cases and only if there is proof that a physician acted with gross negligence, reckless disregard, or intended to cause harm. According to Pennsylvania law, punitive damages are limited to 200 percent of the compensatory damages award.
Injured? Speak with Our Medication Errors Lawyers Immediately
A medication error is inexcusable and always avoidable when a physician takes proper care. If you were harmed due to a medication error, our medical malpractice lawyers are ready to fight for you. To schedule a consultation, contact us by phone or by filling out our online contact form.