Baltimore, Maryland Medication Error Lawyers

Attorneys for Medical Malpractice Involving Medications in Baltimore

According to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting, about 1.3 million people annually are injured by medication errors. In essence, a medication error is a preventable event that leads to patient harm by means of incorrect medication or incorrect dosage.

At Silverman Thompson, our medical malpractice lawyers can help people who have suffered harm due to medication errors. We work with clients to identify negligence by medical professionals and make sure they are held responsible for causing harm to patients.

Causes of Medication Errors

Medication errors can occur in several ways, including:

• Improper dosage being administered or prescribed
• Utilizing the wrong method or route of medication administration (i.e., giving a drug orally when it should be given through an IV)
• Dispensing of the wrong medication by a health care provider or pharmacist

Because patients are generally trusting of their physicians and pharmacists, there can be a lack of fact-checking of medications or dosages between the patient and the provider. If a patient does not catch a negligent prescriber's mistake, a serious injury or even wrongful death can occur. While it is not a patient's fault for ingesting an incorrectly prescribed medication, they may suffer potentially major health consequences.

Hospitals and pharmacies are required to have organizational systems to ensure that they can administer, order, and dispense medications correctly. Guidelines from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists clearly state that a pharmacy is responsible "for the procurement, distribution, and control of all drugs used within the institution." For example, a pharmacist who is preparing to dispense a medication in a situation that is not an emergency should review the written order for medication, and they should use a self-checking process when reviewing orders, labeling prescriptions, and calculating dosages. A pharmacist should not make assumptions or guesses about orders that they may find confusing or vague.

It is important for doctors and pharmacists to maintain communication so that errors can be avoided. A prescriber should fully evaluate the status, health condition, and medical history of a patient before issuing a new prescription, taking steps to make sure new medications will not have adverse interactions with other medications. Healthcare providers should also take steps to make sure prescriptions provide the correct dosages for medications and that these dosages will not have an adverse effect on the patient's health.

Legal Help for People Who Have Suffered Harm Due to Medication Errors

As experienced medical malpractice attorneys in Baltimore, Maryland, the team at Silverman Thompson routinely handles medication error cases involving hospitals and pharmacies in the area. In many instances, these cases settle prior to trial because the liability of the physician or pharmacist is clear.

For example, our office has successfully handled a case in which a pharmacist erroneously filled a patient's prescription for Tegretol extended-release tablets (for seizures) with generic Tegretol (regular release). This caused our client to suffer unnecessary seizures and a complicated hospitalization course. In addition, we successfully resolved a case in which our client was prescribed medication to assist her with sleeping, but she instead received blood pressure medication from the hospital pharmacy. Each of these cases was resolved prior to trial.

Contact Our Baltimore, MD Medication Error Attorneys

When medication malpractice results in harm to a patient, an attorney with experience in medical malpractice cases can provide the representation needed to protect a person's rights. At Silverman Thompson, attorneys Andrew G. Slutkin and Ethan S. Nochumowitz have the experience needed to advocate on behalf of clients who have suffered harm in these situations. For a free consultation, contact our Baltimore medication malpractice lawyers at 410-385-2225.