Terre Haute Medication Error Lawyer

Medication errors are more common than people realize. It is easy for providers to prescribe or administer the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of the proper medication. Sometimes, these medication errors have little effect or can easily be reversed. Other times, these medication errors can lead to severe consequences, including wrongful death.

Pharmacies can also fill the wrong prescription, or a wrong dose of a prescription, leading to illness, overdose, or death.

If you have been hurt from one of these errors, reach out to a skilled medical malpractice attorney for help. When these mistakes have led to injuries, the providers may be liable for those damages. A Terre Haute medication error lawyer will examine the circumstances of a case and explain potential remedies so you can move forward with your life.

Understanding Medication Complications

Every medication has potential side effects. Some are minor, while others are more severe. When prescribing a medication, a provider needs to consider the potential side effects and their trade-off for treatment. A medicine with a massive potential for side effects can be effective against a particular disease. However, it may not be the right choice for a patient if there are equally effective treatments without the same side effects.

Medications can also interact with a patient’s other medications or health conditions. A provider should be aware of all of a patient’s medications. However, they may rely on patient self-reporting to ensure they have a complete medication list. To protect themselves, patients should use a single pharmacy to handle all their medication needs. Doing so gives an extra layer of protection against adverse interactions.

When a medication complication or interaction causes problems will depend on several factors, including the provider’s knowledge of other treatments and the underlying condition. A Terre Haute attorney who handles medication errors will look at the facts to provide advice about whether it was malpractice.

Medication Dosing Errors

Another standard error is medication dosing. Giving a patient too little medication can result in an ineffective treatment or even increase a patient’s resistance to antibiotics or other medications. Giving a patient too much medication can lead to severe health complications or even death.

Medication dosing errors can happen in outpatient environments but are particularly common in hospitals and other in-patient settings. Medical staff are notoriously overworked, and failing to double-check a decimal point or figure can result in irreversible damage to a patient. The facility may be liable when understaffing or poor guidelines contribute to medication errors, and a Terre Haute lawyer can help a person to understand their legal options in these instances.

Medication Allergies

Some medications are generally safe but can be dangerous for patients with allergies. Patients without known allergies are at risk when they begin a new medication, so doctors instruct patients to report unusual side effects immediately. Patients with known allergies should avoid those medications in almost every instance. A doctor who ignores a patient’s history of allergies and prescribes a medication that triggers an allergic reaction could be liable.

Liability for medication allergies may extend beyond a triggered allergic reaction. As a Terre Haute attorney can explain, allergic reactions can delay other treatments and turn a simple mistake into a fatal medication error.

Talk to a Terre Haute Attorney About Your Legal Options After a Medication Error

Medication errors lead to thousands of deaths and countless injuries each year. You may wonder about your potential remedies if you have been hurt. Our skilled attorneys at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin can work to establish a standard of care violation.

You may be entitled to compensation for financial, noneconomic, and even punitive damages if the medical provider’s behavior was egregious. Our legal team is available to work with you so you can understand the compensation options that may be available to you. Schedule a consultation with an attorney from our firm to find out more.