San Antonio Medication Error Attorney

Medication Mistakes in Texas

Doctors prescribe a variety of medications to treat a wide array of illnesses, injuries, and conditions. As consumers, we expect medications to work correctly, and we trust medical professionals to accurately prescribe and dispense the right medications for our needs. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

When doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers make medication mistakes, the consequences can be severe. At the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, P.C., we believe that medical professionals who fail to uphold the standard of care, thereby harming patients, should be held accountable. Our San Antonio medication error attorneys bring over 65 years of experience to their practice of law, as well as a record of success in 99% of the cases they have handled.

If you believe you or a loved one suffered unnecessary injuries, complications, or other harm because of a trusted medical provider’s negligence or wrongdoing, we can help. You may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit and could be entitled to financial compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost quality of life, lost income, and more.

Call the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, P.C. at (210) 226-8888 or contact us online to request a free, no-obligation consultation today.

What Is a Medication Error?

A medication error occurs anytime a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or medical professional/facility makes a preventable mistake in the prescribing, administering, or dispensing of medication.

Some of the most common examples of medication errors include:

• Prescribing the wrong medication/dosage (overdose or underdose)
• Administering the wrong medication/dosage
• Dispensing the wrong medication/dosage
• Failing to account for a patient’s medical history, including drug allergies
• Improper administration of intravenous (IV) drugs
• Administering medications that can cause adverse reactions when taken together
• Failing to prescribe or administer necessary medications

These and other medication mistakes can have serious and even deadly effects. If you were injured or became ill, or if your loved one died due to a medication error, reach out to the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, P.C. today to speak to an attorney about your legal rights and options.

How Do Medication Mistakes Happen?

According to a 2016 study by John Hopkins, medical errors rank as the third leading cause of death in the United States. More alarming still, medication mistakes injure or harm approximately 1.5 million Americans every year.

Why are these mistakes so prevalent?

Many factors contribute to the high rate of medication errors; some of
the most common causes of medication mistakes include:

• Poor communication between medical providers/departments
• Insufficient information/failure to provide adequate information
• Failure to obtain informed consent
• Improper testing/improper analysis of test results
• Prescription mistakes, such as incorrectly spelling medication names
• Misreading prescriptions
• Failure to properly instruct patient
• Incorrect identification of patient
• Technical failures
• Poor or inadequate documentation and procedures/policies

Often, several factors play a role, leading to failures at multiple levels within the system. For example, a doctor may misdiagnose a patient’s condition and, as a result, may prescribe the wrong medication. The patient’s medical team may fail to conduct proper follow-up care, causing them to miss adverse drug reactions the patient is experiencing as a result of receiving the wrong medication. In this way, medication mistakes can cause immense harm and, most disturbing of all, go unnoticed and unaddressed for extended periods of time.

What to Do If You Were Given the Wrong Medication

If you believe you are the victim of a medication error—whether you were prescribed the wrong medication or received the wrong dose while hospitalized—there are a few steps you should take right away to protect your rights.

First, it’s important to note that you only have grounds for a claim if you were injured or otherwise harmed due to the medication error. If you were given the wrong medication at a pharmacy but noticed the mistake before taking the drug, you do not have a case. If, however, you took the medication provided to you, not realizing that it was not the correct drug or the correct dosage, and suffered health complications as a result, you could have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

If you were given the wrong medication, the wrong dosage, or were otherwise harmed due to a medication error, make sure to do the following:

• Seek further medical attention for any injuries or complications you have suffered. Do not let one medical provider’s negligence deter you from seeking the care you need.
• Document your injuries/complications, as well as any further medical care you receive. Keep copies of your medical reports (if possible) and a calendar of your appointments.
• Contact an attorney. An experienced medication error attorney will be able to assess your case and determine how to proceed. Your attorney can also protect your rights and best interests.

To bring a claim, you will need to not only prove that you suffered injuries or other harm but also that the medical provider involved failed to uphold the standard of care. This means that the medical provider acted in a way (through act or omission) that another qualified medical provider would not have in the same or similar circumstances.

Contact the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, P.C. Today

Our team of San Antonio medication error attorneys understands the complexities involved in these types of cases. We work to hold negligent and careless medical providers accountable and are ready to advocate tirelessly for you.

If you were harmed after taking a prescription medication, you could have a case against a negligent medical doctor, pharmacist, or health care institution. In some cases, you may have a claim against the drug manufacturer if the medication itself was defective. Learn more by scheduling a free initial consultation with our team today.

Call (210) 226-8888 or contact us online. We do not collect any attorneys’ fees unless we win your case!