Our medical malpractice experts have experience helping patients and their families who have suffered because of a medication error. They will fight to get you the compensation you and your family are entitled to.
WHAT ARE MEDICATION ERRORS?
When healthcare professionals prescribe medications for their patients, they have an obligation to ensure their patients receive the proper drug and dosage for diagnosed conditions.
At Fieger Law, we’ve seen too many cases where patients have been harmed by the healthcare professionals they’ve trusted. We understand your pain, we understand your rights, and we can help you get the justice you deserve.
Common medication errors include:
- Doctors prescribing the wrong medication or dosage
- Pharmacies filling the wrong medication or dosage
- Nurses administering the wrong shot or medication
- Nursing home staff failing to administer medication on time or at all
- Patients receiving medications they are allergic to
- Patients receiving a combination of drugs that create adverse effects
- Patients receiving incorrect directions for use
- Failure in screening the patient’s medical history and drug intake
Who Is Liable for Medication Errors?
Determining who is responsible for a medication error is important when seeking compensation. Multiple parties within the healthcare system can contribute to these mistakes, whether through negligence, miscommunication, or failure to follow safety protocols.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, one or more of the following may be liable:
Prescribing Physicians: Doctors are responsible for ensuring they prescribe the correct medication and dosage for a patient’s condition. Errors can occur if a physician prescribes the wrong drug, fails to consider a patient’s medical history, or neglects to check for potential drug interactions.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Staff: Pharmacists and their staff play a crucial role in ensuring patients receive the correct medication. Errors in filling prescriptions, mislabeling medication, or providing incorrect usage instructions can lead to serious health consequences.
Nurses and Caregivers: In hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities, nurses and caregivers are often responsible for administering medications. Mistakes such as giving the wrong dosage, skipping doses, or administering medication at incorrect intervals can have devastating effects on a patient’s health.
Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities: When medication errors result from systemic failures — such as inadequate staff training, poor record-keeping, or lack of oversight, the facility itself may be liable. Hospitals and nursing homes must have strict protocols in place to prevent errors and ensure all patients are safe.
Consequences of Medication Errors
Medication errors can have life-altering consequences for patients and their families. Maybe a medication error seems like a small mistake, but it’s far from small, resulting in severe medical complications, emotional distress, and financial hardship.
Some of the most significant consequences of these mistakes include:
- Physical Effects: Depending on the severity of the error, patients may suffer from organ damage, severe allergic reactions, overdoses, or worsening of their existing condition. In some cases, these errors can lead to permanent disability or death.
- Emotional and Psychological Effects: Experiencing a medication error can cause a patient to lose trust in healthcare providers. Many victims suffer from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, especially if the mistake results in prolonged suffering.
- Financial Burdens: The cost of medical treatment for complications caused by medication errors can be overwhelming. Patients may face unexpected hospital stays, additional surgeries, long-term care expenses, and the inability to work, leading to significant financial strain.
Medication errors should never happen, yet they continue to affect millions of trusting patients each year. Fieger Law is here to fight for the rights of victims harmed by medical negligence.
Compensation for Medication Errors
Victims of medication errors often face overwhelming financial burdens. They may be entitled to financial compensation to help cover the costs of their injuries and losses. Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to recover damages for:
Medical Expenses: This includes hospital stays, corrective treatments, medications, rehabilitation, and any ongoing medical care required due to the error.
Lost Income: If the medication error resulted in missed work or a permanent inability to return to your job, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages and diminished earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering: Medication errors often cause not only physical harm but also emotional distress. Victims can seek compensation for mental anguish, reduced quality of life, and chronic pain resulting from the mistake.
Wrongful Death Claims: If a medication error led to the death of a loved one, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Compensation may cover funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and other damages related to their untimely passing.
How Fieger Law Can Help
You should be able to trust medical professionals to provide safe treatment. They have a legal responsibility to do so. Too often, we see patients fall victim to negligence that leads to medication errors.
If you or your loved one is facing serious health complications and financial uncertainty because of a medication error, contact us at Fieger Law. We are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable and securing the justice you deserve by:
- Investigating the circumstances surrounding the medication error
- Gathering evidence, including medical records, expert testimony, and witness statements
- Handling all legal paperwork, negotiations, and court proceedings
- Fighting aggressively for maximum compensation, whether through settlement or trial
Fieger Law: Nationally Recognized Medication Error Lawyers—Fighting For You
For over 70 years, the lawyers at Fieger Law have fought and won compensation for victims of medication errors. If your family has suffered because of a medication error, Fieger Law can help. Contact Michigan’s top law firm specializing in medication error malpractice cases today.
