Whether they suffer from physical or psychological maladies, thousands of Americans put their trust in pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians every day when it comes to treating illnesses with prescription drugs. Unfortunately, some healthcare professionals betray this trust by prescribing drugs or filling prescriptions negligently. A pharmacist or physician’s negligence can have devastating consequences for patients and their families. If you or a loved one has been the victim of pharmaceutical negligence, it is vital that you contact an experienced attorney who can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Examples of Pharmaceutical Negligence
According to the Institute of Medicine, as many as 1.5 million Americans suffer from adverse health consequences as a result of pharmaceutical medication errors every year. Even more alarmingly, thousands of people die every year as a result of incorrectly filled prescriptions.
The most common types of pharmacy mistakes that cause these injuries include:
- Filling a prescription with the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage;
- Incorrectly dispensing another person’s medicine to a patient;
- A failure to advise a patient about complications and potential drug interactions;
- Providing incorrect dosage instructions;
- Entering a patient’s information incorrectly;
- Providing incorrect prescription labels;
- Negligent management of dosages reflecting a change in the patient’s condition;
- A lack of pharmacist supervision of technicians and other employees;
- A lack of training;
- The failure to recognize a conflict between medications;
- An online pharmacy filling a medication without a proper prescription;
- A failure to recognize a patient’s pre-existing allergies; and
- Providing incorrect medical advice before distributing a medication.
Common Injuries Caused by Pharmaceutical Negligence
Injuries caused by a pharmacy or doctor’s negligence can have devastating consequences for a patient’s health. Some of the most common results of pharmaceutical negligence include:
- Allergic reactions;
- Overdoses;
- Miscarriages;
- Organ failure;
- Birth defects;
- Extreme illness; and
- Death.
While many of these injuries will be evident immediately, others can take months or even years to reveal themselves.
Negligent Parties
When filing a claim of pharmaceutical negligence, an injured party may be able to bring a lawsuit against one of the following parties:
- The pharmacist who incorrectly filled a prescription with the wrong dosage or medication;
- A physician who prescribed a medication to a patient without discovering the existence of potential drug complications or pre-existing allergies; or
- The manufacturer of a drug, if inadequate testing was performed, or if the company failed to warn physicians and patients of the medication’s dangerous side effects.
Statute of Limitations
In Wisconsin, a victim of pharmaceutical negligence must bring a claim against the responsible party, either:
- Three years from the date of the injury; or
- One year from the date the injury was discovered or should have been discovered if reasonable diligence had been exercised.
However, in either case, an action cannot be commenced if more than five years have passed since the date of the negligent act or omission.
Contact an Experienced Pharmaceutical Negligence Attorney Today
Pharmaceutical negligence can have devastating effects on the emotional, physical, and financial well-being of patients and their families. If you or a loved one live in Brookfield and have sustained an injury due to a pharmacist’s or physician’s negligence, a competent attorney may be able to help you obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Please contact a member of our experienced pharmaceutical negligence legal team at Groth Law Firm, S.C. at (855) 434-5526 for a free consultation.