Variations of Drug Errors That Can Trigger Injury Claims
A mistake in drug prescription or dispensing can lead to severe injuries. As the victim of such injuries, you deserve compensation from the liable party. Below are some of the types of prescription errors that can trigger injury claims.
Wrong Drugs
This error applies if the doctor prescribes an entirely wrong drug for your case. It also applies if the dispensing chemist gives you the wrong drug. An example is if your doctor prescribes a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), but the pharmacist gives you a strong narcotic instead.
Wrong Dosage
A medical professional can also make a mistake by giving you the wrong dosage of the right drug. A wrong dosage is dangerous because it can either harm you or fail to help you.
Take the example of opioids that the medical industry widely uses for pain management. An opioid dosage over 100 morphine-equivalent milligrams (MEM) per day is dangerous. MEM is a measure of the potency of opioids. Thus, anyone who exceeds that dosage should be liable for the ensuing damages.
Mislabeling
Mislabeling occurs if a medical professional gives you a drug with the label of a different drug. The risk of mislabeling is high if you want to purchase or have a prescription for multiple drugs.
Maybe you have a cut on your arm, and you need an antibiotic and a painkiller. If the painkiller comes with the label of the painkiller, then you can end up taking the wrong dosage unintentionally.
Drug Interactions
Some drugs interact with each other to trigger dangerous side effects and you should not take them together. For example, taking amlodipine (a calcium blocker) alongside clarithromycin together (an antibiotic) can cause acute renal failure.
A qualified medical professional prescribing or dispensing such drugs should be aware of their interactions. If the medical professional disregards the interactions, then they should be liable for any injuries you might suffer due to the interactions.
Failure to Warn
Most drugs have side effects. Drug manufacturers, doctors, pharmacists, and other medical professionals should warn their patients about these side effects. The warnings allow the patients to make informed decisions on their medication. Thus, anyone who fails to warn you about the side effects of a drug should be liable for your injuries if you suffer serious side effects.
Claims based on prescription or drug errors are not easy to prove. Consult an injury attorney to help you process your claim or lawsuit.
