Iowa Pharmacy Error Lawyers
Legal Representation If You Have Suffered from a Pharmacy Error in Iowa
Over 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug per day, and almost one out of four people are taking four or more prescriptions daily. Millions more are prescribed antibiotics and other types of medication every year to treat various types of ailments.
The pharmaceutical industry plays an important role in maintaining the health of our citizens. That’s why it’s absolutely essential for patients to receive the correct prescriptions. Patients must also be given the necessary instructions for administering medications, and precautions must be taken to prevent unsafe drug interactions.
When pharmacists make mistakes, patients suffer severe harm and fatalities. That’s why pharmacies must hire qualified personnel and make sure their employees have the training and tools they need to do their job effectively.
If someone you love was harmed by a pharmaceutical error in Iowa, contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. today. We’ve won record-breaking settlements for our clients.
Call (877) 433-3906 to learn more today.
Types of Pharmacy Errors
When a pharmacist fills a prescription, there’s no room for error. If the potency of the drug is higher than prescribed, it could result in a fatal overdose. And if the amount is too low, the drug could be ineffective, preventing an infection from getting better, or causing someone to have a seizure.
If the patient gets the wrong drug, it could have devastating effects. And this would also prevent the patient from getting vital medication, such as pills to reduce their blood pressure.
In addition to providing the correct drug, pharmacists must also make sure patients receive the proper instructions. Patents must be informed about when to take the drug and whether to take it on a full or empty stomach.
It’s also important to inform patients about possible side effects. For example, many types of drugs cause patients to become drowsy or disoriented. When patients are unaware of possible side effects, they may harm themselves and others by driving or operating heavy machinery when they shouldn’t.
Pharmacists must also inform patients about possible allergic reactions, so they’ll know to stop taking the drug and contact their doctor right away if they notice certain symptoms.
There are some types of drugs that must not be taken together, or the results could be devastating or even fatal. It’s the pharmacist’s responsibility to review the patient’s other prescriptions and make sure they’re not receiving an unsafe combination.
Frequent pharmacy errors include:
- Incorrect dosage
- Wrong medication
- Mislabeling drugs
- Misreading the prescription
- Failure to warn about side effects
- Failure to provide adequate instructions
- Failure to warn about possible allergic reactions
- Failure to recognize harmful drug interactions
What Is Pharmaceutical Malpractice?
It requires 8 years of college to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Pharmacists have extensive training in chemistry and advanced knowledge about the effects that drugs have on your body.
Just like doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, pharmacists have a duty of care, which is the obligation to uphold the prevailing standards of their profession. Pharmaceutical malpractice occurs when a pharmacist commits a careless act that seriously harms a patient.
When a pharmacist makes an error, the following consequences may result:
- Strokes
- Overdose
- Seizures
- Organ failure
- Kidney failure
- Brain damage
- Internal bleeding
- An allergic response
- Heart attacks
- Loss of vision
- Birth defects
- Coma
- Death
How Your Iowa Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help
Your Iowa medical malpractice attorney will conduct a thorough investigation to find out what happened. Perhaps the pharmacy failed to enact the proper safeguards to prevent errors from occurring. Or maybe they hired unqualified people to fill your prescription.
When their investigation is complete, your attorney will file a claim against anyone whose negligent behavior contributed to your injuries. This may include:
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacies
- Doctors
- Hospital staff
- Nursing home staff
- Hospital and nursing home administrators
Damages Available for Pharmacy Malpractice
Pharmacy errors can have catastrophic consequences. Victims may require lifelong medical treatment and assisted living care. In many cases, people who suffer from pharmaceutical malpractice will never be able to return to work or resume their normal day-to-day activities.
An Iowa pharmaceutical malpractice claim includes the following types of damages:
- Current and future medical bills
- Emergency room care
- Surgery
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Medication
- Reduced earning capacity
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- In-home nursing care
- Lost wages
- Medical equipment
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Schedule a Free Consultation Today
At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we’ve dedicated our practice to helping people who were harmed by the careless actions of others. We treat all our clients with respect and compassion.
Call our Iowa pharmacy error attorneys at (877) 433-3906 to learn more today. At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we’ll never stop fighting for you.
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