Knoxville Prescription Error Attorney
Prescription drug errors are a common medical mistake. The latest statistics show that a staggering 1.3 million people are injured every year due to prescription drug errors. There is no reason why so many mistakes should happen to innocent people.
To get well, patients need to receive the correct treatment, and this includes the right prescription drugs at the right dose. If a doctor or pharmacist error has injured you, then you might be entitled to compensation. Our Knoxville prescription error attorney can help.
Medical Negligence Leads to Prescription Errors
Both doctors and pharmacists can make mistakes. For their part, doctors must prescribe the correct prescription at the right dose. Pharmacists must also furnish drugs in accordance with the prescription written by the doctor.
Unfortunately, many errors lead to injury:
- Prescribing the incorrect medication
- Prescribing the wrong dosage
- Providing incorrect instructions—e.g., telling patients to take a drug at specific intervals when it should be taken “as needed”
- Failing to account for how the prescription interacts with other drugs
- Failing to account for a patient’s allergies
- Ignoring patient complaints that they feel unwell after taking a prescription
Prescription Errors Harm Patients
When patients are given the wrong medication or the wrong dose, they could suffer from serious complications, including toxic side effects. Patients will also probably see their underlying medical condition worsen, since they are not receiving the correct treatment.
Other patients could suffer life-threatening allergic reactions or a dangerous interaction of drugs. They could end up in the emergency room on life support as doctors race to figure out what is wrong.
These patients unfortunately accrue additional medical expenses—sometimes considerable expenses. Their chances of recovery decline, and they might not be able to return to work in a timely manner. In total, many patients lose thousands of dollars (or more) due to preventable prescription errors.
What Causes Prescription Errors?
To make a claim for compensation, our Knoxville prescription error lawyer will carefully review all facts. One thing we look for is why the error was made in the first place. Some common reasons include:
- Carelessness
- Incorrect data entry
- Unclear prescription
- Misreading a patient’s medical history
- Confusingly similar drug names
- Lack of training or experience
- Improper supervision of pharmacy techs
- Improper stocking of supplies in the pharmacy
- Pharmaceutical incentives for prescribing certain drugs
Building a case the right way requires obtaining medical records and interviewing the people involved in your medical treatment. Pharmacies, hospitals, and doctor’s offices have legal teams which instruct their clients to resist turning over records and to refuse to talk to anyone. If you were injured, you’ll need a seasoned legal advocate who knows how to obtain critical information about your case so that you can connect the error to your injuries.
Speak with Our Knoxville Prescription Errors Lawyer
Many patients have no firm idea of whether a prescription error is harming them. All they know is that they had a negative reaction soon after taking a pill or that their condition is worsening even though they are taking their medicine as prescribed. For legal assistance, contact Atkins Brezina, PLLC for a free consultation.
