Boise Medication Error Attorneys
We fight for patients suffering due to medication errors throughout the state of Idaho
Improper dosages, medications, or other errors can have grave consequences. Because doctors see so many patients on a day-to-day basis, a tremendous burden is put on the entire healthcare staff. Medication errors have unfortunately become a common mishap, partly as a byproduct of this demand. They are a very serious problem and affect many patients across the United States every year. The results of an improper dosage, incorrect prescription, or another error can lead to sustained illness or even death. We can help you recover damages if you were a victim of a prescription medication mistake
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An Overview of Medication Errors
Medication errors are a rampant problem, as they cause approximately 1.3 million injuries to United States residents each year and, on average, more than one fatality per day. With more than 10,000 prescription medications accessible to clinicians in the United States, and with nearly one in three Americans taking five or more prescription medications, it is paramount that medical professionals exercise the utmost care and caution in prescribing medications. There are many types of medication errors, and they can result in anything from temporary discomfort to death. These errors can be considered medical malpractice.
Types of Medication Errors
From the prescribing clinician to the healthcare professional administering the medication, multiple parties can make mistakes in more ways than one, including:
- Prescribing error – An incorrect drug selection, dosage, quantity, concentration, or rate of admission
- Improper dosing – A greater or lesser amount of medication than is required to treat the patient’s condition
- Improper administration – Using the wrong administration technique, such as oral instead of intravenous
- Omission – A failure to provide a dose of medication
- Time error – Giving a medication outside of a predetermined time interval
- Wrong dose – Administering the wrong dose of the correct prescription
- Preparation error – An incorrect formulation of a medication
- Communicative error – A lack of communication between a healthcare professional and prescribing physician
Although pharmacists, doctors, and nurses undergo years of education and training, they are still subject to human error.
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Why Medication Errors Occur
Between prescribing, repackaging, dispensing, administering, and monitoring medications, distribution system failures happen. As patients, we would like to think that medication errors are exceedingly rare, but they are not. Why do they happen?
- Distraction – A rise in patient demand increases the likelihood that practitioners will misread labels and administer incorrect medications
- Exhaustion – Longer hours increase the odds that an overworked physician will make reading errors and suffer from a lapse in judgment
- Lack of understanding – Practitioners who lack knowledge of how specific drugs work, what they are named, and their side effects are more likely to make mistakes
- Incomplete patient information – A lack of information regarding patient allergies, other medications, and previous diagnoses increase the probability of medication errors
Although pharmacists, doctors, and nurses undergo years of education and training, they are still subject to human error. Long hours and distractions can plague the best physician. Whether the wrong medication, dose, or directions were given, the majority of medication errors are preventable.
Receiving Damages for a Medication Error
You cannot sue a hospital, pharmacist, or physician simply because you experience troubling side effects when taking prescription medications. Instead, you will need to prove that you suffered an injury as a direct result of another party’s negligence. Without the help of an experienced attorney, it is difficult to prove liability and near impossible to know what damages you are eligible to receive. The attorneys at Hepworth Holzer can review your case to identify the specific error or careless behavior and detail the ways in which you were negatively impacted. With our help, you can receive compensation for medical bills, lost income, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boise Medication Error Attorneys
Common medication errors include dispensing the wrong medication, incorrect dosage amounts, wrong patient receiving medication, mislabeled prescriptions, drug interaction failures, ignoring allergy warnings, look-alike/sound-alike drug confusion, expired medications, compounding errors, and administration mistakes. Hospital errors often involve IV medication mistakes, pump programming errors, and nursing administration failures. These errors can occur at any point from prescribing to administration and can result in serious injuries, adverse reactions, or death.
Multiple parties can be held liable for medication errors including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, prescribing physicians, nurses, hospitals, pharmacy chains, drug manufacturers, and compounding facilities. Liability depends on where the error occurred and who had responsibility for catching and preventing it. Idaho law allows claims against all negligent parties in the chain of medication handling, and an experienced attorney like Kurt Holzer will identify all potentially liable parties to maximize compensation for your injuries.
Proving medication error causation requires establishing the standard of care, showing how it was breached, and demonstrating that the error directly caused your injuries. This involves obtaining pharmacy records, prescription histories, medical records, expert testimony from pharmacy and medical professionals, and documentation of the specific error that occurred. An experienced attorney will work with pharmacology experts and medical professionals to establish the connection between the medication error and your resulting injuries or adverse reactions.
If you suspect a medication error, seek immediate medical attention and inform your healthcare providers about the suspected error. Keep the medication bottle and any remaining pills exactly as received. Document your symptoms and adverse reactions. Report the error to the pharmacy and request incident reports. Don’t throw away any evidence. Contact an experienced Idaho medication error attorney like Kurt Holzer immediately to preserve evidence, obtain records, and protect your rights before crucial evidence disappears.
Medication error compensation in Idaho can include medical expenses for treating adverse reactions, lost wages, pain and suffering, future medical care, rehabilitation costs, permanent disability damages, and in cases of egregious negligence, punitive damages. Serious medication errors can cause permanent organ damage, allergic reactions, drug toxicity, or death, resulting in substantial compensation. The amount depends on the severity of your injuries, the degree of negligence, and the long-term impact on your health and life.
In Idaho, medication error lawsuits typically must be filed within two years of when you discovered or should have discovered the error and resulting injury. However, evidence preservation must begin immediately as pharmacy records, video surveillance, and witness memories can disappear quickly. Some medication errors may not manifest symptoms immediately, making the discovery rule important. It’s crucial to consult with an experienced attorney promptly to ensure your claim is filed within all applicable deadlines.
Absolutely, hiring an experienced medication error attorney is essential for your Boise pharmacy malpractice case. Hepworth Holzer’s Kurt Holzer has extensive experience handling complex medication error cases throughout Idaho and holds prestigious credentials including Idaho Trial Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America, and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating. Medication error cases involve complex pharmaceutical knowledge, pharmacy standards, medical causation, expert testimony requirements, and sophisticated defense tactics that require specialized legal expertise to navigate successfully and secure maximum compensation for your injuries.
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