A medication error is a preventable event that leads to inappropriate medication use or harm to a patient. It occurs when there is a deviation from the intended prescription or use of a medication, which can include prescribing, dispensing, administering or monitoring medications.
If a medication error leads to harm or injury, it may give rise to a medical malpractice claim or legal action, depending on the specific circumstances. If you feel you or a family member has been harmed due to a medication error in Orlando, FL, contact the team of medical malpractice attorneys at Ligori & Ligori, Injury Lawyers for a free case review.
How Do Medication Errors Happen?
Medication errors in Orlando can happen at various stages of the medication process, and they can involve different factors or individuals, such as doctors, nurses or pharmacists. Some common examples of medication errors include:
- Prescribing errors: occur when a healthcare provider makes a mistake in prescribing the medication. It could involve prescribing the wrong medication, the wrong dose, an incorrect frequency or duration of administration or overlooking potential drug interactions or allergies.
- Dispensing errors: occur when a pharmacist or pharmacy technician makes a mistake in preparing or providing the medication to the patient. This could involve giving the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, or incorrect labeling or packaging.
- Administration errors: occur when the medication is not administered correctly to the patient. It could involve administering the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, using the wrong route of administration or administering at the wrong time.
- Documentation errors: occur when there are mistakes in documenting or recording medication-related information. It could involve errors in the patient’s medication history, medication orders or medication administration records.
Medication errors can have serious consequences for patients, ranging from mild side effects to severe adverse reactions, hospitalizations or even fatalities. When a medication error occurs, the patient or their family has the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim against the medical professional or facility that caused the medication error.
What Are the Steps to Proving Medication Error Negligence?
Proving negligence in a medication error case generally follows the same principles as proving negligence in a medical malpractice claim. Certain elements must be demonstrated to establish negligence in a medication error case.
- The plaintiff must show that there was a duty of care owed by the healthcare provider. This means that a doctor-patient or provider-patient relationship was established, and the healthcare provider had a duty to provide competent and appropriate medical treatment.
- The plaintiff must demonstrate that the healthcare provider breached their duty of care by failing to meet the required standard of care. In the context of a medication error, this could involve prescribing the wrong medication, administering the wrong dosage or failing to recognize and address potential drug interactions or allergies.
- The plaintiff must establish that the medication error directly caused or significantly contributed to their harm or injury. This requires demonstrating that if the medication error had not occurred, the patient would not have suffered the adverse effects or would have experienced a different outcome.
- The plaintiff must show that they suffered damages due to the medication error. This can include physical injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income, or other measurable harms.
At Ligori & Ligori, Injury Lawyers, we have spent decades providing legal help to our clients who have sustained injuries from medical negligence, including medication errors. Contact us online or call us today for a free legal consultation regarding your medication error medical malpractice claim in Orlando, Florida.
