Pursuing Medical Negligence Claims Against Pharmacies and Pharmacists
Pharmacists commit malpractice most often by dispensing the wrong medications, dispensing incorrect dosages of the right medications, and dispensing medications in unsafe combinations. Pharmacists also commit malpractice by failing to recognize prescriptions that have been written negligently by doctors. Any of these errors can result in catastrophic injury or death.
A pharmacy will dispense paperwork with prescriptions designed to inform patients and family members about the medication being dispensed; the strength of the pills, capsules or liquid medicine; the dosage schedule; and potential harmful effects and dangerous interactions. Although pharmacies and pharmacists attempt to use such documents in defense of malpractice cases, it is never enough to provide such documents if a prescription should have never been dispensed in the first place. Here are some examples of pharmacy malpractice:
- A woman taking Coumadin had her dose doubled by her doctor, meaning that instead of one pill she should take two. The pharmacy misinterpreted the instructions and dispensed pills double in size, writing on the bottle to take two pills instead of one. This meant that the woman's Coumadin was quadrupled. Worsening the problem, the doctor did not properly monitor the blood level of anticoagulation. The woman died from a brain hemorrhage as a direct result of a medication overdose.
- A woman in her 60s had a history of a seizure disorder. She was on anti-seizure medication and had not had a seizure in many years. The pharmacist dispensed the wrong medication, one that was not intended to prevent seizures. Within a week, the woman had a grand mal seizure and suffered serious complications.
- A middle-aged man who had chronic back pain became addicted to narcotic pain medication. The man's doctor continued to prescribe ever-increasing dosages of narcotics. The pharmacist continued to fill these prescriptions. Neither the doctor nor the pharmacist recognized that even with higher dosages, the man was obtaining refills more frequently than if he were taking the prescribed number of pills. Finally, he was found by his wife one morning having died during his sleep from a narcotic overdose.
In consultation with pharmacists, physicians and other professionals, our Albuquerque pharmacy malpractice attorneys at The Kauffman Firm will analyze pharmacy, medical and additional records to determine whether malpractice occurred. If so, we may be able to recover money damages to help pay for medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, lost income and other expenses, as well as compensation to you and your family for the emotional and physical pain and suffering and other damages that may result in these cases.
Call Our New Mexico Medication Error Attorneys at 505-814-1823
If you or a loved one has been harmed as a result of a suspected pharmacy error, our experienced trial lawyers at The Kauffman Firm may be able to help. To arrange a free consultation and case evaluation, please contact our law firm at 505-814-1823 or by e-mail.
