Tampa Prescription Drug Errors Lawyer
Unfortunately, prescription drug errors in Tampa are all too common. Prescription drug errors fall under the umbrella of Florida medical malpractice statutes and usually occur when doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are negligent in prescribing or dispensing medications. When prescription drug errors occur, patients may suffer serious injuries, and in the worst cases, death.
If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of a prescription drug error, you may be entitled to legal compensation. It is essential that you have an experienced Tampa prescription drug errors lawyer on your side in order to maximize the value of your case. An experienced malpractice attorney can fight for your right to compensation.
Common Types of Errors
The following types of prescription drug errors are most common:
- Dispensing the incorrect medication
- Dispensing the wrong medication dosage
- Prescribing the incorrect medication
- Miscommunication between the doctor or nurse and pharmacist
- Illegible handwriting by a pharmacist or doctor
- Failing to recognize or appreciate a patient’s drug allergy
- Failing to recognize or appreciate drug interactions
Proving Malpractice
In prescription drug error cases, as with all medical malpractice cases, the injured patient has the burden of proving negligence on the part of a health care provider. Prescription drug errors are usually caused by overworked doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or other healthcare providers.
In medical malpractice cases, including prescription drug error cases, health care providers are held to the standard of care of a reasonable health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) acting under the same or similar circumstances. In the prescription drug context, this means that the health care provider must be acutely aware of a patient’s allergies, as well as potentially harmful drug interactions.
When health care providers deviate from the applicable standard of care, an injured patient may be able to prove medical negligence or medical malpractice. However, in addition to breach of the duty of care, the injured patient must also prove that the healthcare provider’s negligence proximately caused injuries and damages.
Potential Damages
Injured patients may be able to claim some or all of the following types of damages with the help of a Tampa prescription drug error attorney:
- Payment of all medical and hospital bills and expenses
- Compensation for lost wages from time missed from work
- Past, present, and future pain, suffering, and inconvenience
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of earning capacity
- Permanent injuries and damage
- Loss of consortium, companionship, or spousal support
- Wrongful death
Contact a Prescription Drug Errors Lawyer
Prescription drug errors can result in serious and debilitating side effects, injuries, and even death, in the most serious cases. If you or someone you love was injured as a result of a prescription drug error, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.
Prescription drug error cases can be difficult to prove because there is a strong presumption that the health care provider behaved appropriately. Experienced prescription drug error lawyers in Tampa have the medical knowledge and legal experience necessary to aggressively advocate for you.
A skilled Tampa prescription drug errors lawyer will meet with you to discuss the facts and circumstances of your case, gather the necessary evidence, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.