Jacksonville Pharmacy Error Attorneys

The problem of pharmacy errors is certainly one that seems to be on the increase and a cause of many medical malpractice lawsuits. Annually, about three billion prescriptions are written that lead to 30 million dispensing errors annually, according to the National Patient Safety Foundation.

Errors can be serious. CNN reported in 2007 on a pregnant woman who went to a pharmacy to fill her prescription for prenatal vitamins, but instead of receiving Materna, she received a prescription for Matulane, a chemotherapy drug. She miscarried within weeks. The drug alters cell growth and DNA development.

The problem is particularly prevalent in outpatient pharmacies when compared to inpatient pharmacies. It's estimated up to 3 percent of dispensing errors by inpatient hospital pharmacies are potentially serious, according to a report in the American Journal of Hospital Pharmacies. The Institute of Medicine reported that between 1983 and 1993, deaths from medication errors increased 2.5-fold in inpatient settings. Among patients outside of hospitals the increase was an alarming 8.5-fold.

Pharmacists admit they make more errors when they are fatigued, overworked, have to fill a high number of prescriptions in an hour, when drugs have similar names, if they are interrupted, and if they have to try and read poor handwriting by a doctor.

One way to avoid a pharmacy error may be to wait and not have the prescription filled at the beginning of the month when Social Security checks come in and swamp the pharmacies with orders, increasing pharmacy errors by 25 percent above normal.

Look at the prescription while in the drug store and compare the dosage ordered by the doctor and the name of the drug on the prescription to the one you have received. Read the package insert to see if it addresses your ailment. Finally, ask the pharmacist to double check whether the drug you received is the same and the same dosage you were prescribed.

In the case of children, an adult prescription can be deadly so it is very important to check all medications, especially those for children.

Farah & Farah's experienced Florida pharmacy error attorneys understand the complex nature of pharmacy errors. A complimentary consultation can provide an injured patient with options, direction and a course to seek compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical and rehabilitation costs.