When you go to a hospital or other medical facility, you trust the healthcare professionals there to perform their jobs well. We know that so many people rely on a doctor to prescribe lifesaving medicines. Whether they are asthma, cardiac conditions, diabetes, or another major medical problem, millions of Americans count on receiving the correct medication.
But what happens when you or a loved one experience a medication error that causes further harm, or worse, death?
If a healthcare professional has caused you or loved one harm and you need a Philadelphia medication error attorney, you can count on The Weitz Firm, LLC to be by your side working to recover the compensation you deserve.
Medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States and many of those mistakes revolve around medication errors. In fact, medication errors are one of the most common healthcare errors in the US, leading to an estimated 7,000 annual deaths.
In hospitals, medication errors are far too common. They come in the form of not giving the patients the correct medicine, giving them the wrong dosage of their medications, or simply not giving them their required medications. Studies show that the most commonly reported causes of medication problems have to do with slips and lapses, knowledge-based mistakes, and deliberate violations.
Doctors and nurses also cited problems in written communication, medicine supplies and storage, overworked staff, and interruptions while administering medications.
Prescription issues can happen if a doctor fails to obtain a full patient history, including medication the patient is currently taking. If a doctor prescribes a medication that is bad for the patient or has negative reactions with another medication the patient is on, the outcomes could be devastating.
Pharmacy errors are more common than people realize and can stem from the pharmacists or pharmacy technicians cutting corners and taking shortcuts. We understand that pharmacies are busy, but if their staff decides to override built-in safety measures, they are putting patients at risk.
We want to note that in-home healthcare professionals should perform at the same high quality of care that they would in a healthcare facility. They are often tasked with ensuring patients take their correct medications and doses throughout the day. A failure to do so properly could result in further harm to their patients.
Most people do not realize that they have a limited amount of time to file medical malpractice claims after a medication error in Philadelphia. According to state law, most medical malpractice lawsuits need to be filed within two years from the time a patient discovers they were injured or became ill due to a medication error. Notice that this time frame says from the date the patient discovers the mistake. Often, medication errors are not realized until long after they have occurred, so the medical malpractice statute of limitations allows for two years from the discovery date as opposed to two years from when the mistake actually occurred.
Additionally, state law imposes a seven-year statute of repose on medical malpractice cases. This means that victims of medication errors have a total of seven years to file their claims regardless of when they discover their injury or illness. No medical malpractice claim can be filed beyond this seven-year window. The only exception to that is if the medication error happened to a person under the age of 18. In these cases, the victim will have until their 20th birthday to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent party.
Victims of medication mistakes in Philadelphia may be entitled to various types of compensation. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our qualified and experienced attorneys have regularly been able to help secure the following types of compensation for our clients in these situations:
The total amount of compensation available in these cases will vary depending on factors related to each particular situation. This includes the severity of the injury or illness caused by the medication error, the level of the victim’s pain and suffering, and more.
Unfortunately, medical malpractice cases involving medication mistakes can become incredibly complicated. Most victims affected by these errors lack the resources and legal expertise necessary to secure maximum compensation for their claim. Often, poorly fought medical malpractice cases end up getting dismissed. That is why you need to secure assistance from a skilled Philadelphia medication error attorney as soon as possible. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we have extensive resources at our disposal. We will be able to:
We know how scary it can be to go through a medication error made by a healthcare professional. If you have experienced this and need a medical malpractice attorney, contact The Weitz Firm, LLC today. We know that these kinds of mistakes can harm you and make your medical condition worse. We want to help you recover compensation for your medical expenses and lost income if you miss work, but we will not stop there. We want you to receive payment for your pain and suffering as well as punitive damages against those responsible. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here.
We are highly selective in the cases we undertake to ensure that can give each client his full attention. You can schedule an appointment for a personal injury consultation at our Philadelphia office by calling us, or by filling out our online intake form.
