Pharmacy Malpractice

When people think of malpractice, they usually think of doctors failing to carry out their duties. While this is one of the more common forms of malpractice, the truth is that any healthcare provider is capable of committing an action that is considered medical malpractice.

In terms of pharmacists, malpractice may refer to a number of things, many of which relate to a patient receiving the wrong medication or receiving a medication that is harmful to him or her. Common examples of pharmacy malpractice are:

· Mislabeling prescription bottles

· Filling a prescription incorrectly

· Advising a patient to take the wrong dosage

· Failing to explore potential side effects

· Failing to determine drug interactions

Each of these errors is preventable in many cases, which is what makes them negligent actions. Though the pharmacist may be liable for injuries stemming from the previously mentioned errors, they may not always be at fault.

In some cases, prescribing doctors may be liable for injuries if they incorrectly write the medication or dosage a patient is set to receive. Additionally, a pharmacy technician may be at fault. Technicians are pharmacy assistants that often fill prescriptions that only require counting pills.

Regardless of who is at fault, victims of pharmacy malpractice may be entitled to financial compensation for the injuries that they suffer. Before pursuing actions, victims are advised to consult with an experienced lawyer, as an attorney may be able to help patients determine who is at fault and whether more than one party is to blame.

Pharmaceutical errors have the potential to be deadly in some cases and seriously debilitating in others. The Brooklyn medical malpractice attorneys of Parker Waichman Alonso, LLP believe that individuals who have suffered injuries because of pharmacy errors should exercise their right to seek financial compensation for their injuries.