Medication Errors in Colorado Hospitals: A Serious Concern
Medication errors are among the most common and preventable forms of medical negligence in Colorado, and they may lead to serious or fatal harm.
If you or a loved one has experienced harm from a prescription mistake, dosage error, or drug interaction in a hospital, our experienced team of Colorado medical malpractice attorneys is here to help.
At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we represent patients who have suffered due to unsafe healthcare practices. We are nationally recognized for our success in complex hospital malpractice cases and are ready to fight for your rights.
What Are Medication Errors?
A medication error is any preventable mistake in prescribing, dispensing, or administering medication that leads to—or has the potential to lead to—harm. These errors may occur in:
- Hospital emergency rooms
- Intensive care units (ICUs)
- Surgical settings
- Post-operative recovery
- Long-term care and rehabilitation centers
While some mistakes are caught before they reach the patient, many go unnoticed until the damage is done.
Types of Medication Errors
Prescription Mistakes
These occur when the wrong medication is prescribed or the prescription is inappropriate for the patient’s condition. Examples include:
- Allergic reactions due to failure to review medical history
- Prescribing medications that conflict with a patient’s current drug regimen
- Confusing drug names or abbreviations
Dosage Errors
Dosage errors involve giving too much or too little, or administering a drug at the wrong intervals. This can result in serious side effects, toxicity, or failure to treat the condition effectively.
Drug Interactions
Hospitals treat many patients with complex medical histories. Administering a drug that negatively interacts with another medication—or with a pre-existing condition—can be dangerous.
Pharmacy Negligence
Pharmacy negligence occurs when the hospital pharmacy dispenses the wrong medication, mislabels a prescription, or provides incorrect instructions. In a fast-paced hospital setting, these mistakes can escalate quickly.
Administration Errors
Nurses and hospital staff may make errors when delivering medications. These include:
- Administering medication to the wrong patient
- Using the wrong route (e.g., oral instead of intravenous)
- Ignoring vital signs or contraindications
- Wrong amount
- Wrong time
Causes of Medication Errors in Colorado Hospitals
Colorado hospitals are not immune to systemic and individual failures that lead to hospital malpractice involving medications. Common contributing factors include:
- Understaffing and overworked personnel
- Poor communication between doctors, nurses, and pharmacists
- Inadequate training or supervision
- Misuse of electronic medical records
- Failure to double-check high-risk medications
In some cases, multiple layers of negligence are involved, making legal claims complex but essential for accountability and change.
The Impact on Patients
The consequences of medication errors can range from mild discomfort to permanent disability or death. Victims may suffer from:
- Organ damage (e.g., liver, kidney)
- Cardiac arrest or stroke
- Brain damage due to overdose or allergic reaction
- Prolonged hospitalization and complications
- Loss of mobility or cognitive function
Even if the physical harm is eventually reversed, the emotional and financial toll can last a lifetime. That’s why legal action may be necessary—not only to recover damages but to ensure such errors don’t happen again.
Legal Remedies for Medication Errors
Under Colorado law, hospitals and healthcare providers must adhere to an accepted standard of care. When a deviation from that standard causes harm, the patient may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
To file a claim, you must show that:
- A healthcare provider owed you a duty of care
- That provider breached the standard of care
- The breach is a cause of injury
- The injury led to measurable damages
Victims have two years from the date of injury—or discovery of the injury—to file a malpractice claim. Colorado also requires a certificate of review from a qualified medical expert within 60 days of filing.
How a Medication Error Lawyer in Colorado Can Help
Proving a medication error isn’t always simple. It often requires reviewing extensive medical records, understanding complex pharmacology, and consulting with experts. An experienced Colorado medication error lawyer will:
- Investigate how and where the error occurred
- Identify all liable parties (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospital systems)
- Quantify your damages (medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering)
- Work with expert witnesses to support your case
- Negotiate with insurers or present your case in court if needed
At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we take a comprehensive approach to every claim, ensuring no detail is overlooked and no avenue of recovery is left unexplored.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Depending on the circumstances, any of the following may be liable for medication-related injuries:
- Prescribing physicians
- Attending nurses
- Hospital pharmacists
- Pharmacy technicians
- Hospital administrators or healthcare systems
Colorado allows for both individual and institutional liability, which is critical when multiple failures lead to patient harm.
What Damages Can Be Recovered?
If your claim is successful, you may be eligible for compensation, including:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability and loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death damages (if applicable)
Colorado law caps non-economic damages (like pain and suffering), but the cap for economic damages is different. A judge can allow you uncapped damages with the appropriate showing in court.
Our firm works to document every cost and consequence of your injury to pursue the fullest compensation possible.
Why Choose Leventhal Puga Braley P.C.?
Our Denver-based law firm is recognized among the nation’s premier advocates for victims of hospital malpractice. We have:
- Won some of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in Colorado history
- Been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and other leading organizations
- Deep experience in handling prescription mistakes, dosage errors, and pharmacy negligence cases
- A track record of taking on major hospitals and insurers—and winning
We treat every client with compassion and determination because we know the stakes are high and the impact is deeply personal.
What to Do If You Suspect a Medication Error
If you believe a medication error caused harm to you or a loved one, take the following steps:
- Request your complete medical records – These will be key evidence.
- Get a second opinion – Confirm the injury and its likely cause.
- Contact a medication error lawyer in Colorado – Early legal guidance makes a major difference.
Speak With a Trusted Medication Error Attorney in Denver
If you or a loved one was injured due to a prescription mistake, dosage error, or drug interaction, you deserve answers. Our Denver medication error attorneys are ready to investigate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 for a free consultation.