Millions of people take several prescriptions daily to improve their health. The proper medication, dosage, and instructions on taking them are crucial. Sadly, mistakes, such as placing the wrong label and other prescription errors, are relatively standard. The consequences are severe and sometimes life-threatening.
You could have grounds to sue a pharmacist if they put the wrong label on your meds and you suffered adverse effects. While a qualified medication error lawyer could answer specific questions, the type of lawsuit likely falls within pharmacy malpractice labeling errors.
Guidance on Preventing Label Errors
Repeated and systematic checking and quality control are effective ways for pharmacists to minimize errors and ensure the label provides the proper medication and dosage instructions. They should also ensure all the crucial information is clear and intelligible. The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority instructs that medication label errors are primarily the result of readability issues, such as low contrast or the use of colors.
Pharmacists owe a professional standard of care to all patients they fill prescriptions for, and when they make preventable errors and cause someone harm, there could be cause for legal action. Ensuring that trivial information does not overshadow the essential information on a label, avoiding unnecessary logos or graphics, and using an adequate label size is vital. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer could help the patient determine whether they have a valid reason for a claim and collect the evidence to establish fault.
Mislabeling Medication Suits
Sometimes, the medication has the wrong label, causing the patient to receive the incorrect dosage or medication. Pharmacies have a duty to provide every patient with a professional standard of care regardless of how busy or stressed they are. They must have systems in place and quality control processes to prevent mislabeling mistakes from harming the public.
Failure to Warn
Failure to warn is another type of lawsuit that arises from labeling mistakes. Risks, side effects, and other critical information must be clear. When missing or unreadable, patients can sustain severe injuries they could have avoided with adequate information.
Determination of Liability
While many labeling errors happen because of pharmacist oversight and negligence, other parties could also be at fault, including:
- Drug makers
- The prescribing doctor
- Pharmacy aids and techs
- The retailer for pharmacy chains
A lawyer at The Weitz Firm with experience determining liability can name all responsible parties in a lawsuit.
Recoverable Damages
When patients establish liability successfully, they could be awarded damages for the following:
- Medical expenses to cover costs associated with their injuries and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages and benefits for patients who cannot return to work or require time off for treatment
- Noneconomic damages, such as pain and physical suffering, permanent disabilities, reduction of the enjoyment of life, and emotional distress
The settlement amount depends on case specifics, such as the type of error and the patient’s injuries.
Call Today to Learn How You Can Sue a Pharmacist Who Put the Wrong Label on Your Meds
Applying the wrong label and other mistakes can have life-threatening and, in the worst cases, fatal consequences. Mislabeling medication, including the incorrect drug, dosage, or missing information regarding allergies and interactions, unnecessarily places patients at risk.
When you sustain bodily harm and other damages because of labeling mistakes, you may have grounds to sue the pharmacist who put the wrong label on your meds for negligence and hold them financially responsible.
A settlement could cover your monetary losses and supplement your income while recovering from the injuries at home. Call a compassionate and experienced pharmacist malpractice lawyer to schedule your free consultation.
