Prescription Error Lawyer Johnson City
Prescription errors are among the most common preventable medical mistakes, harming over 1.5 million people every year. Prescription errors are thus a serious public health concern.
When medication errors occur, severe injuries or even death can result, impacting not only a victim but also their family. If a medical provider, pharmacist, drug manufacturer, pharmacy, or hospital negligently causes a preventable prescription error, they may be liable for the resulting damages suffered, including medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, short and long-term injuries, and other expenses. If a death occurs as a result, they may potentially be responsible for a host of additional damages, including emotional pain, suffering, and loss to the surviving family members, as well as lost wages that otherwise would have supported the family.
If You or a Family Member Has Been Injured, It’s Important to Seek Legal Representation Promptly
If you were injured or a loved one died due to a prescription error, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your losses. Call our office to schedule a free consultation with experienced Johnson City prescription error lawyer Mark Hurt. Mark can listen to the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and fight tenaciously in seeking the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.
We represent clients in Johnson City and the surrounding communities on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will NEVER PAY A LEGAL FEE unless you recover compensation.
Do People Frequently Die from Prescription Errors?
YES!
In addition to severe injuries, birth defects, hospitalizations, and disabilities, thousands of patient deaths each year are caused by prescription errors, making this a societal epidemic. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals have a duty to ensure that prescription drugs are appropriately prescribed and administered, and employers (such as hospitals and pharmacies) have a duty to guarantee appropriate safeguards are in place to stop prescription errors from occurring. Further, pharmaceutical companies have an obligation to implement safety protocols to protect the public from unsafe medications.
When any of these parties negligently fail to uphold their duty, injured victims and their families (in the case of a wrongful death) are legally entitled to seek damages.
In addition to countless deaths, severe long-term disabilities can also occur from prescription errors, resulting in a financial healthcare burden of over $40 billion annually. Patients should not be left to shoulder such costs alone; instead, the negligent care provider or institution should be held accountable and fully financially liable.
Are There Different Types of Prescription Errors?
There are numerous types of prescription drug errors that can result at various stages of the prescription and administration process, from when a patient gives their medical history to a doctor until the individual takes the medication.
Up to 70% of prescription errors occur when physicians prescribe medications, varying from prescribing the wrong medication or an incorrect dose to recommending an improper frequency. Errors can also occur if the physician does not take into account adverse past reactions to a drug, or the known interactions with other drugs that a patient may be taking.
When prescriptions are transcribed, messy handwriting, abbreviations, misinterpreted symbols, language barriers, or improper translations can also result in errors.
Further, when a pharmacist dispenses medications, a patient could receive the wrong medicine, dose, frequency, or instructions. Pharmacists also must be aware of potential drug interactions with drugs that a patient currently may be taking.
In some cases, even if a prescription is dispensed correctly, it may be administered incorrectly (such as at the wrong time). At other times, a prescription may be properly dispensed and administered, but it may interact with other drugs or organs that may be overlooked. Lastly, there are cases in which a prescription is properly prescribed and dispensed, but the drug is simply unreasonably dangerous, potentially placing liability on a pharmaceutical company.
Regardless of the reason for a preventable prescription error, negligent parties should be held fully accountable and financially liable for all harm caused. At The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we have a track record of success in helping injured victims secure compensation in Johnson City from those responsible. Firm-founding attorney Mark Hurt is a Duke Law graduate with over two decades of legal experience. If you need help seeking compensation, we welcome you to call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation.
We Represent Prescription Error Victims on Contingency – No Fee Unless Compensation is Recovered!
At The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we represent injured victims on contingency, meaning we do not charge a fee unless we successfully recover compensation on an individual’s behalf. Further, we advance all litigation expenses while a case is ongoing, and such costs are typically fully covered by a settlement or jury award.
Thus, when you retain our law firm, you do not need to worry about how litigation costs will be paid – we take care of all of these bills while your case is ongoing.
Who Is Liable for Prescription Errors?
Because prescription errors can result in permanent injuries that may require life-long medical care, it is crucial to identify all liable parties, as this provides the best chance of securing the maximum compensation possible. For example, an individual nurse may not have the financial means to cover a victim’s lifelong medical care, but his or her hospital employer will almost certainly have insurance capable of covering the ongoing treatment.
Depending on what type of error causes an injury, what factors contributed to the mistake, and who caused it, it is possible to show that multiple parties may be liable, including:
- Doctors
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Nurses
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacies
- Other medical personnel
- Other medical or care facilities
At The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we can help identify all liable parties to increase the likelihood of securing maximum compensation.
Call Experienced Johnson City Prescription Error Lawyer Mark Hurt Today!
If you or a loved one have been injured by a prescription error, you may be entitled to significant compensation. To find out how an experienced Johnson City prescription drug error lawyer can help you, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We can evaluate the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and help determine the parties which may be liable for your injuries.
