Medication errors by pharmacists could be medical malpractice

Many Louisiana residents are wary enough to ask their doctors questions when they are not comfortable with a diagnosis or course of treatment. However, many of us tend to simply hand a prescription to a pharmacist without even thinking twice when we are given what we hope is the medication that was prescribed. Each year, many people are injured by or die from medication errors made by pharmacists, and they and/or their family members have the right to file a medical malpractice claim.

Pharmacists have an immense responsibility to the people who entrust them with their medications. If an individual is given the wrong medication, it could have dire health consequences. Even if a pharmacist provides the correct medication, it could be in the wrong dosage or might not have the correct instructions and/or warnings with it.

Some people take more than one medication, and the interactions between certain drugs can put a patient’s life in jeopardy as well. Pharmacists and their technicians are human, and errors can be made. If someone fails to double check if there is a question or is unable to read a doctor’s handwriting, it is the patient that suffers.

When prescriptions are filled properly, medications can provide the relief needed for an acute or chronic condition. Therefore, it is imperative that pharmacists here in Louisiana and elsewhere take their time and ensure that the medication they are dispensing will not somehow harm the patient. Sadly, this does not always happen, and you could suffer serious injury — or lose a family member — because of it. If this has happened to you, it would be beneficial to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to determine whether filing a medical malpractice claim is appropriate.