St. Petersburg Medication Error Lawyer
Medication errors can happen at many touch-points throughout the usage process, from when a physician orders a prescription to the patient taking it. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this type of mistake is a preventable event that leads to inappropriate administration of medicine and causes patient harm. However, this clinical definition doesn’t describe the extensive losses for victims.
If you were harmed because of a medication error, it’s important to realize that you may have rights under Florida’s medical malpractice laws. Our team at Palmer | Lopez can explain in more detail after reviewing your circumstances, so please contact us to set up a free case evaluation with a St. Petersburg medication error lawyer. An overview of the basic legal concepts may also be helpful.
Causes of Medication Mistakes
In general, errors in administering medication are usually a result of careless acts by a nurse, physician, or pharmacist. Each of these health care providers has a duty to comply with the standard of care that applies in the relevant profession. The failure to do so may allow an injured patient to seek monetary damages through a medical malpractice claim.
Examples of negligent medication errors include:
- The doctor is the lead provider on medication for the patient, so common mistakes include making poor decisions in prescribing a medication or dosage. Often, this is the result of carelessness in reviewing the patient’s history for conflicts, allergies, and adverse interactions with drugs he or she currently takes
- A nurse may not give the proper dose or drug to the patient, or could give the medication to the wrong patient through a chart mishap.
- The pharmacist who receives the prescription from a physician may err by filling it with a different drug or dosage, or not warning about side effects. He or she might also print incorrect information on the label when providing instructions to the patient.
Monetary Damages for Victims
Medication errors are a form of medical malpractice, so much of the legal process is the same. Our team at Palmer | Lopez starts by conducting an in-depth investigation into the circumstances behind the mistake, working medical experts to identify the breach of the standard of care. The next step is filing an insurance claim to try and negotiate a settlement, but we may need to resort to litigation. We pursue all potential parties to recover:
- Your medical costs;
- Lost wages;
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress; and,
- Many other types of compensation.
Call Now to Set Up a Consultation with a St. Petersburg Medication Error Lawyer
This summary may be useful, but there’s much more to medical malpractice claims for medication mistakes in practice. Our attorneys at Palmer | Lopez specifically focus on these types of cases, so we’ve amassed extensive experience and skills advocating on behalf of our clients. To learn more about how we can assist, please contact our St. Petersburg office to speak with a member of our team. You can schedule a complimentary consultation by calling 813-967-8505 or checking us out online.
