Delaware Medication Error Attorneys Protecting Victims of Medical Mistakes

Patients rely on different types of medicines to prevent disease, fight infection, control medical conditions, and maintain optimum health. Unfortunately, medication errors are some of the most common medical errors, and they harm thousands of people every year. When a medication error occurs―whether in a doctor’s office, during surgery, or at the pharmacy―serious injury and death can occur. If you believe you have been injured by medical or pharmaceutical negligence, you should be compensated for the emotional, physical, or financial difficulties you have endured. Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free initial consultation to discuss your options: (302) 428-8800.

What Kind of Medication Errors Can Occur?

Doctors, nurses, and all other medical professionals have an obligation to care for their patients at a high level, which includes knowing their medical history, other medications, and any allergies they may have. They also are expected to have knowledge of drug interactions and proper dosing for any medication they prescribe, administer, or dispense and whether the necessary medical benefits of the medication outweigh any potential side effects. There is documentation available to them to research this information, and many of the programs used by hospitals and doctor’s offices will provide a warning if a medication is contraindicated for a patient. However, while most medical staff are very conscientious about the work they do, errors still occur, and when they do, it can be devastating for the affected patients. Some examples of medication errors that may happen include:

• Wrong prescription
• Failure to administer the proper dosage
• Pharmacy errors or errors filling the prescription
• Contraindicated medications
• Prescribing medications with known allergic reactions for the patient
• Failure to warn of all risks associated with the medication

Who Makes Medication Errors and Why?

Medications can be very powerful tools for health, but when prescribed or administered incorrectly, they can be dangerous or even deadly. Patients put their trust in the effectiveness of medications, but at times even the most cautious medical professional can make a mistake that causes harm. The most obvious medication error is when a doctor prescribes medication to a patient incorrectly. They could write a prescription for the wrong medication, a dose that is too large, a medication that has dangerous interactions with another prescription the patient is taking, or a host of other mistakes. But there are other individuals who could be at fault for a medication error, such as an ER nurse who gives an incorrect dosage or a pharmacist who dispenses an incorrect medication. In these cases, a hospital or drug store chain could be held liable for the actions of its employees.

There are many safeguards in place to try to ensure medication errors don’t occur, so why do they still happen? Patients should have detailed records on file of which medications they are taking, their allergies, and any health conditions for which they are being treated. However, sometimes proper communication doesn’t occur due to unreadable handwriting, using incorrect medical terminology, or writing and reading shorthand incorrectly. Other times, it’s purely human error and oversight on the part of the medical professional. There have even been medical malpractice cases where doctors were working and prescribing while under the influence of medications themselves. Our law firm will closely investigate all potential causes for your medication error to ensure all liable parties are held legally accountable for your injuries.

What Kind of Compensation Is Awarded to Victims of Medication Errors?

Typically, individuals are taking medications because they are already dealing with a variety of health issues. When a medication error occurs, it can be yet another blow to an individual and their well-being. Medication errors may cause serious complications, which can lead to hospitalization, organ damage, allergic reactions, and even death. A victim will likely require time to recover, which means missing work and losing wages. A medical malpractice lawsuit is meant to hold those responsible for your medication error injuries accountable. The categories of damages a personal injury attorney may secure for you include:

• Actual compensatory damages: These damages cover financial losses you incurred as a result of the medication error. This may include hospital bills, lost wages, costs for rehabilitation or counseling, and more.
• General compensatory damages: Any non-financial losses you experienced due to the medication error would be included here. These are very real but less tangible things such as future medical expenses, mental anguish, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium, among others.
• Punitive damages: If the actions of the medical professional or entity named in the medical malpractice lawsuit are deemed by the court to be particularly egregious, negligent, or malicious, they may award an amount above and beyond the compensatory damages as punishment. These damages are awarded infrequently, but they are meant to dissuade others from committing the same act.

Why Hire a Lawyer for Your Medication Error Claim?

At Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC, we represent people throughout Delaware who have been injured by medication errors. Our attorneys have significant experience handling complex medical malpractice claims against hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, and other medical entities. We work to obtain favorable outcomes for clients in settlement negotiations and courtroom verdicts. Additionally, our law firm builds cases where every element of your claim is identified accurately and supported by evidence.

If you or someone you care about has been injured because of a medication error, please contact Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC for a free initial consultation. We are here for you, and we offer the convenience of flexible appointments. We take all cases involving medication errors on a contingency basis, so we charge you nothing unless we win or settle. Please call Hudson, Castle & Inkell, LLC today at (302) 428-8800.