Medication errors are a leading cause of malpractice claims, though they can take many forms. When you lose a loved one as a result of a medication error, you have a right to pursue the case. It is important to know what type of medication error occurred so that you know who to hold accountable.
Understand the most common types of medication errors that can lead to wrongful death claims to help you determine how to proceed.
Hospital errors
If a patient in the hospital receives a medication that their chart shows an allergy to, and their allergic reaction results in death, the oversight of the allergy is medical malpractice. Doctor’s prescription mistakes, nursing administration mistakes and a lack of monitoring after medication administration all qualify.
Sometimes, hospital medication errors are dosing mistakes. If a nurse working a double shift measured a syringe incorrectly or a distracted doctor wrote down the wrong dose of a medication, that qualifies as well.
Pharmacy mistakes
It is a pharmacist’s job to verify prescriptions and ensure that fill those prescriptions correctly and deliver them to the proper patients. Pharmacists also monitor existing medication records to flag potential interactions or allergies. Any oversight in this regard or mistake in the dosage, medication type or filling the prescription could be a liability issue for the pharmacist.
Doctors, nurses and pharmacists have a significant position of authority that comes with a lot of responsibility. Recognizing common medication mistakes can help you address malpractice and wrongful death for your loved one.