Medication errors can include an array of misconduct from a physician prescribing an incorrect dosage to even a pharmacist who grabs the wrong container of pills, a crucial medical mistake can have disastrous impacts.
When someone’s actions are not aligned with how another trained professional would act in the same situation, those injured may be able to bring a civil action for negligence. If the person is a healthcare provider, that action or omission is medical malpractice. A Rockville medication error lawyer can explain how you may be entitled to compensation from a medical professional who harmed you.
How do Malpractice Claims Differ from Tort Claims?
Maryland has a specific process for addressing medical malpractice claims that differs from general negligence claims. Injured parties do not just deliver a complaint to the courthouse and wait for the defendant to answer.
Medical malpractice claims demand a certificate from an expert witness—a physician practicing in the same or similar field as the doctor accused of a medication error. The certificate includes the following information:
- The name of the accused
- The circumstances of the error
- The standard of care common in the field
- Why the expert witness believes malpractice has been committed
- And that the damages are causally related to the malpractice
All parties involved in a malpractice claim must also submit to arbitration, unless the defendant waives this right. An arbitration panel is convened to resolve the parties’ differences and discuss whether there is a valid claim. A skilled Rockville medication error attorney works with expert witnesses to certify complaints and address the arbitration panel to move claims forward in the system. Most of these claims are waived out of arbitration.
Common Medication Errors
Although it seems logical that the prescribing physician is the one who is most likely to make errors when prescribing medication, the negligent party is often the person administering it. Overworked care providers must remember when pills are distributed if they are taken with food or water, and if they should be crushed or taken whole. Some examples of medication errors include:
- Prescribing the wrong medication after a misdiagnosis
- Failing to determine whether a patient is allergic to a prescribed medication
- Administering an incorrect dosage of medication
- Failing to log a hospital patient’s medication, resulting in another nurse administering it again
A one-time medication error can be dangerous, but repeated over time, errors can lead to disastrous consequences such as overdoses, organ failure, and death. A proactive medication error lawyer in Rockville can consult with an experienced expert witness to discuss whether a medical provider failed and harmed a patient. If so, compensation for malpractice injuries may be owed.
Enlist the Help of a Rockville Medication Error Attorney Today
Although most medical providers are conscientious and caring, mistakes still happen. Because medication alters the body’s chemistry, care providers must ensure that medicine is prescribed and administered correctly.
If you have had an adverse reaction after being given the wrong medication, too high a dose, or because your medication was incorrectly administered, you may have a viable medical malpractice claim. Our attorneys at Price Benowitz dedicate our time to helping those victimized by negligent health providers. They owe you their best; a Rockville medication error lawyer can stand up for your rights when they fail to provide an acceptable standard of care. Call today to discuss your case with one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys.
