Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Medication is prescribed by a physician to improve the state of a patient’s health. Doctors, pharmacists and other health care professionals occasionally make mistakes in the way that a drug is prescribed, dispensed or administered. Although fatalities caused by medication errors are completely preventable, they are estimated to occur as many as 7,000 times each year, and debilitating side effects occur even more frequently due to this form of medical malpractice.
Because the effects of medication errors are not as obvious as the effects of surgical errors, anesthesia errors, birth injuries or unauthorized or unnecessary medical procedures, families and victims of Elgin medication errors do not always realize the subsequent health problems are related to the medication. Failure to diagnose medication errors is all too common. It can be difficult for family members to discuss potential medication errors with medical professionals, who fear breaches of doctor-patient confidentiality. However, unless an inquiry is made, patients and their families are unlikely to make the connection between a medical problem and the medication.
Elgin Medication Errors
Patients often see more than one specialist or visit hospitals or emergency clinics for an illness when their regular provider is not available. Physicians who do not request or consult records create the risk of prescribing medications that will have adverse reactions when used in conjunction with other drugs currently being taken. Other common prescription drug mistakes include the following:
- Prescribing a dosage that is too high or too low
- Printing the wrong instructions on the bottle
- Pharmaceutical errors
- Anesthesia errors
Pharmaceutical companies also make medication errors and put patients in danger by allowing a medication to enter the market without adequate testing or information on adverse reactions. A health care professional may be negligent and put a patient at risk at any stage of the medication process.
Patient Safety
Regardless of whether a patient is taking a medication at home, having it administered by a nurse at a health care facility, or receiving anesthesia for a medical procedure, an adverse reaction is possible. All prescription use should be monitored carefully by the primary care physician to ensure patient safety and prevent medical malpractice negligence.
Uncovering evidence of a prescription drug error often requires an in-depth investigation process. Cary J. Wintroub and Associates can help you determine the best way to proceed in your medical malpractice claim. Contact us at (312) 726-1021 today to schedule a free consultation and begin the legal process.
