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 negligent actions 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 seek compensation and obtain the full and fair 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 due to medical mistakes involving prescription drugs every year. Even more alarmingly, thousands of people die each year from wrong medication, incorrect dosage, or potential drug interactions.
Common negligent acts in pharmacies or hospitals that lead to these injuries include:
- Filling a prescription with the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage;
- Incorrectly dispensing another person’s medicine to a patient;
- Failing to advise a patient about potential drug interactions or complications;
- 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;
- Insufficient training;
- Failure to recognize conflicts between medications;
- Online pharmacies filling dangerous drugs without a proper prescription; and
- Failing to recognize a patient’s pre-existing allergies.
Common Injuries Caused by Pharmaceutical Negligence
Injuries caused by a pharmacist’s or physician’s negligent care can be severe. Some of the most common results include:
- Allergic reactions;
- Overdoses;
- Miscarriages;
- Organ failure;
- Birth defects;
- Extreme illness; and
- Death.
These injuries can lead to substantial medical expenses, lost wages, and prolonged pain and suffering. Some injuries appear immediately, while others may take months or years to manifest.
Negligent Parties
When filing a personal injury lawsuit for pharmaceutical negligence, an injured party may bring a legal action against:
- The pharmacist who incorrectly filled a prescription;
- A physician who prescribed a dangerous drug without discovering potential complications; or
- The manufacturer of a drug that failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare professionals about the medication’s risks.
Statute of Limitations
In Wisconsin, victims of pharmaceutical negligence must bring a legal claim within:
- Three years from the date of injury; or
- One year from the date the injury was discovered, if reasonable diligence had been exercised.
However, in either case, an action cannot proceed if more than five years have passed since the negligent act.
Contact an Experienced Pharmaceutical Negligence Attorney Today
Pharmaceutical negligence can have serious consequences for a patient’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being. If you or a loved one in Brookfield has been harmed due to a pharmacist’s or physician’s negligent care, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact the Brookfield pharmaceutical negligence lawyers at Groth Law Firm, S.C. at (414) 939-9118 for a free consultation. Our experienced personal injury attorneys are committed to guiding you through the legal process and protecting your rights to fair compensation.