Medication Error Questions

What are medication errors?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a medication error is defined as, “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing; order communication; product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature; compounding; dispensing; distribution; administration; education; monitoring; and use.”

How do medication errors occur?

Medication errors can result from a variety of things.  However, the most common causes of medication errors are:  incomplete patient information or medical history, failure to recognize and indicate patient allergies, prescribing the wrong drug, and prescribing the wrong dosage. 

What is medical negligence?

Medical negligence occurs when medical professionals fail to meet the standard of conduct for duties related to the medical profession.  Medical negligence is also considered the failure to exercise reasonable medical judgment. 

Can I file a lawsuit for a medication error?

That depends.  Usually, a person can file a lawsuit to collect monetary damages for injuries related to a medication error if they can prove 1) a medication error occurred, 2) the medication error led to them being injured, and 3) the medication error resulted from medical professional negligence.  These factors are crucial to the success of a medication error case and can be difficult to prove without help from an experienced medication error attorney. 

What should I do after I have suffered from a medication error?

If you have been seriously injured due to a medication error that was made by your physician, your pharmacist, or while you were in the hospital, it is in your best interest to speak with a qualified medication error attorney.  Medication error cases are extremely difficult to litigate, which is why you will need the resources, counsel, and professional experience only a reputable medication error lawyer can provide.

If you are looking for a committed, unyielding medication error attorney in Tampa or anywhere else in the state of Florida, contact the Distasio Law Firm today.