Have you or a loved one been affected by a medication error? If you were prescribed the wrong medication or dosage and suffered an injury or illness as a result, you may be able to file a medication error lawsuit to recover damages.

At The Mabrey Firm, our experienced Atlanta medication error lawyers will fight for your right to compensation and justice. Interested in learning more? We are happy to listen to your story and provide you with all the information you need to decide whether or not to move forward with a claim during a free consultation.

What is a Medication Error?

According to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP), a medication error is considered “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the healthcare professional, patient, or consumer.”

Medication errors can occur at any stage of the prescription process, such as when:

• Prescribing a drug
• Preparing or dispensing a drug
• Giving a patient a drug
• Entering information into a computer system
• Recording information in a patient’s chart
• A drug is being taken by a patient

Types of Medication Errors

Since medication errors can occur at any point in the prescription process, there are many types. At best, medication errors can be an expensive and inconvenient nuisance. At their worst, medication errors can adversely affect a patient’s quality of life and even lead to permanent disability or death.

The most common types of medication errors are:

• Medication administration errors: Such errors occur when a medical professional such as a doctor or nurse gives a patient the wrong type or amount of medication.
• Medication overuse: Overuse can result when a patient takes a drug with no medically valid reason for doing so, or when a patient receives more medicine than they need from a healthcare worker.
• Medication underuse: This can occur when a patient has a medical condition that could improve with drug use, but they are prescribed too little medication—or none at all.
• Inappropriate medications usage: The patient has a condition which medication may improve, but they are taking an inappropriate or incorrect drug to treat it.
• Adverse drug reactions and interactions: The patient develops a medical problem resulting from the medication, such as an allergic reaction. Adverse reactions can also be caused if a patient takes medication incorrectly—such as on an empty stomach when the drug requires a patient to have eaten—or if they are using multiple drugs simultaneously that don’t work well together.
• Non-adherence to medication regimen: If a patient refuses to take their medication or cannot afford it, for instance, this can cause problems. Medical staff can also be responsible for non-adherence to medication regimen if they fail to give a patient their medication for any number of reasons.

Causes of Medication Errors

Medication errors can typically be traced to errors on the part of medical staff in regards to reading, writing, or interpreting a patient’s charted information. Though medication errors can be the fault of a patient, as noted above, people tend only to sue when medication errors occur due to malpractice on the part of a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional.

Common causes of medication errors due to healthcare workers include:

• Inadequate education and/or training
• Lack of knowledge about the drug
• Lack of knowledge about the patient’s medical condition
• Lack of drug information references
• Failing to use available drug information references
• Incorrect, inadequate, or missing documentation
• Substandard work performance
• Taking shortcuts to save time
• Fatigue resulting from working a long shift
• Distractions and interruptions
• Human error

Medication errors in hospitals may also be caused by a computer system’s failure while prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and administering medication.

Results of Medication Errors

Every year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives more than 100,000 reports related to suspected medication errors in the United States alone. Because the consequences of a medical error can range so dramatically—from a drug having no effect on a patient to the wrong medication causing permanent injury or damage—each of these claims is taken very seriously.

Serious results of medication errors can include the following:

• Allergic reaction
• Anaphylactic shock
• Birth defects
• Disability
• Hospitalization
• Death

Should You Hire an Atlanta Medication Error Attorney

If you have suffered an illness or injury due to a medication error that resulted in additional medical treatment and/or unnecessary pain and suffering, you have the option of filing a medication error lawsuit. This will allow you to potentially secure funding for your medical bills and other expenses that resulted because of the medication error.

However, as in any medical malpractice claim, you will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the medical facility or professional who made the error did so due to negligence. Going against a healthcare professional and their insurance company when you are unfamiliar with medical and legal jargon and procedures can be tough.

The best way to build a strong case is to rely on the services of a knowledgeable and experienced medication error attorney.

Our Medication Error Lawyers in Atlanta Can Help

At The Mabrey Firm, our Atlanta medication error lawyers will collect evidence, interview healthcare experts, and file paperwork on your behalf. We will also represent you throughout negotiations and stand up for you during a trial if your case goes to court.

We are not intimidated by large medical institutions or complicated legal matters, so please reach out to us if you’re looking for thorough and aggressive representation that will secure the recovery you deserve.

Call The Mabrey Firm at (404) 841-4991 to schedule your free consultation today!