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Prescription errors unfortunately occur at an alarming rate in the United States today. Prescription errors can result in serious injury, illness and even death. As one of the most common causes of medical malpractice, approximately 7,000 people lose their lives due to prescription errors annually. If you are among the over 100,000 people affected by prescription errors each year, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering and losses.
What is a Prescription Error?
A prescription error not only constitutes cases of wrong medication, but also other forms of negligence committed by doctors and medical professionals. Mistakes that may lead to prescription errors include prescribing too much of a medication, not considering the weight and age of a patient, and disregard of allergies or other complications that may affect the patient''s health while taking the medication. Prescription errors can occur in pharmacies, hospitals, doctor''s offices, nursing homes, and in the home and are one of the most easily traceable forms of medical malpractice.
Children at a High Risk
Children are particularly vulnerable to prescription errors because of their undeveloped chemical tolerance and immune systems . When prescribing any medication to a child, the weight and age must be taken into consideration to determine a safe dosage. A child''s body lacks the ability to metabolize and tolerate toxic levels of medication, as an adult might be able to, putting them at a considerably higher risk for prescription errors. It is approximated that one in every 18 children who are prescribed a medication are victims of prescription error.
The 5 R''s Vital to Prescribing
To avoid dangerous incidents of prescriptions errors, doctors abide by the “Five R''s” test when prescribing medications. The Five R''s represent a check system on each important aspect to be considered when choosing a medication for a particular patient:
If any one of these steps is overlooked in the prescribing process, a prescription error may occur. Discussing these factors with your doctor or your child''s doctor, can help prevent prescription errors.
The Cost of Carelessness
In many cases, prescription errors are the result of pure carelessness. Illegible handwriting is a well-known and sometimes comical stereotype of doctors, however, this failure to write legibly on a prescription may result in serious injury or death if the pharmacist wrongly identifies the medication. Simple precautions performed by and required of doctors can prevent the many prescription errors occurring each year in the United States. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 prescription errors are preventable.
If you suspect that your injuries or illness was caused by a prescription error, you may wish to speak to an experienced and trusted physician to discuss your concerns regarding your medication.
Have you been a victim of prescription error?
If so, you may be entitled to compensation. A qualified medical malpractice attorney can be vital in helping you handle the legal aspects of your prescription error case. Like many medical malpractice claims, prescription errors are subject to statute of limitations, which limits the time you have to pursue your legal claim. A qualified attorney can discuss the statute and other laws that apply to your case in greater detail. Contact us today to speak to a skilled legal professional, for a free evaluation of your case. Search for a lawyer near you by zip code or state using the form in the upper right of this page.
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