Can You Sue If You Receive The Wrong Medication From A Pharmacy?
Picking up a prescription from your local pharmacy is a task you do to take care of yourself. When doing so, you trust that the medication you have been given is exactly what your doctor ordered. Yet pharmacy errors can and do happen. This is sadly more common than many realize, and the consequences can be life-changing.
In Maryland, receiving the wrong medication or dosage may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit, depending on the circumstances. A Baltimore personal injury lawyer can investigate the incident, work with medical experts, and determine whether the pharmacist, pharmacy, or other healthcare providers should be held liable.
How Pharmacy Errors Happen
Pharmacies fill thousands of prescriptions every day, and even with advanced technology, human error can occur. Common causes of prescription mistakes include:
- Similar drug names. Confusing medications with look-alike or sound-alike names.
- Incorrect dosage. Dispensing too much or too little of the prescribed drug.
- Labeling errors. Placing the wrong instructions or dosage details on a prescription bottle.
- Misreading prescriptions. Incorrectly interpreting a doctor’s handwriting or electronic entry.
- Failure to check interactions. Neglecting to warn about harmful drug combinations.
These mistakes can have serious consequences. The wrong medication or dosage can lead to allergic reactions, worsening of the original condition, organ damage, or dangerous drug interactions.
When a Mistake Becomes Malpractice
Considered healthcare providers in the state of Maryland, pharmacists have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care in preparing and dispensing medications. When they breach this duty and cause harm, the case may fall under medical malpractice law.
To prove a malpractice claim, you must show that the pharmacist had a responsibility to provide the correct medications and that they failed to meet accepted professional standards. For example, they may have provided the wrong drug or an incorrect dosage. Because malpractice cases can be complex, Maryland law requires plaintiffs to file a Certificate of Qualified Expert from a medical professional to support the claim.
If you believe you’ve received the wrong drug, stop taking the medication immediately. Contact your doctor to discuss the mistake and address any health risks. You should also save the medication and packaging as evidence. Documenting your injuries and expenses is key as well, meaning keep records of hospital visits, test results, and related costs.
You trust a pharmacy to safeguard your health, not jeopardize it. If a prescription mistake has caused you harm, you may have legal options to hold the responsible parties accountable and secure the compensation you need.
When moving to obtain justice, connect with a skilled Baltimore personal injury lawyer. Talented legal professionals are available to help, and their expertise is key as pharmacy error cases can involve large corporations, insurance companies, and detailed medical evidence.
Have you been recovering from harm sustained due to a pharmacy error? Picking up a prescription should be a relief, but the troubles may only begin if a person is given the wrong drug or an incorrect dosage. Talk to the attorneys at Iamele & Iamele, LLP. To book an appointment, contact us.
