Georgia Medication Error Injury Attorney

Prescription errors are a dangerous and often preventable form of medical malpractice. They occur when a healthcare provider administers the wrong medication or dosage – or fails to recognize adverse drug interactions – potentially causing significant harm to patients. Our skilled Georgia medical malpractice lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals seriously harmed by prescription errors and ensuring that responsible parties are held accountable.

If you’ve been injured or your loved one was killed because of a medication error, contact us today at 706-354-4000 or fill out our contact form and tell us a little about your situation.

Who is Susceptible to Prescription Errors?

While prescription errors can happen to anyone, certain groups of people are more vulnerable, including elderly patients, children, or patients with chronic conditions.

• Elderly Patients: Often prescribed multiple medications, elderly patients face a higher risk of harmful drug interactions or mismanagement of dosages.
• Children: Medication dosages must be precisely calculated based on age and weight, making them more susceptible to dosage errors.
• Patients with Chronic Conditions: Individuals managing ongoing illnesses may receive multiple prescriptions, increasing the likelihood of confusion or miscommunication among healthcare providers.
• Patients in Nursing Homes or Long-Term Care Facilities: Staff in these facilities may be overwhelmed, leading to administration errors. Click here to learn more.

Common Types of Prescription Errors

Prescription errors can take many forms, including:

• Incorrect Medication: A patient may be given the wrong drug due to a miscommunication or misreading a prescription.
• Wrong Dosage: Administering too much or too little of a prescribed medication can lead to dangerous side effects or inadequate treatment.
• Failure to Recognize Drug Interactions: Some medications can interact negatively with others, and failure to consider these interactions can lead to severe complications.
• Mislabeling or Miscommunication: Pharmacists or healthcare providers may mislabel a prescription or miscommunicate dosing instructions to the patient.
• Failure to Account for Allergies: Some patients have known allergies to specific drugs, and administering these medications can result in life-threatening allergic reactions.

Why Do Prescription Errors Happen?

Prescription errors often result from issues such as poor communication, understaffed and overworked medical staff, poor training, or software errors.

• Inadequate Training or Supervision: Healthcare providers may lack the necessary training or oversight to ensure proper medication administration. Hospitals and other medical facilities are legally responsible for training their staff. They must provide adequate training to all employees to ensure they can perform their duties correctly and safely.
• Poor Communication: Miscommunication between doctors, nurses, and pharmacists can result in incorrect prescriptions being filled or administered.
• Overworked Medical Staff: In busy environments like hospitals or nursing homes, overworked staff may rush, leading to mistakes. Long hours and too many patients can also leave medical workers tired and overwhelmed.
• Electronic Health Record (EHR) Issues: Errors in EHR systems, such as incorrect input of patient information, can lead to incorrect prescriptions.

Where Do Prescription Errors Occur?

Prescription errors can happen in a variety of medical settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
• Pharmacies
• Outpatient Clinics
• Doctor’s Offices
• In-home Nursing Care

Examples of Severe Injuries from Prescription Errors

Prescription errors can cause life-threatening complications such as organ failure, allergic reactions, coma, or even death.

Receiving the wrong medication or dosage may damage the liver, kidney, or other vital organs. It can also lead to a heart attack or stroke. Failing to recognize a patient’s allergies may result in anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal condition.

Severe medication errors such as an overdose can lead to a coma or death. When a patient is given the wrong medication or an insufficient dose, their underlying medical condition may worsen, potentially causing long-term effects.

Preventing Prescription Errors in Medical Facilities

Medical facilities must implement safety protocols to prevent prescription errors. Healthcare providers, including physicians, pharmacists, and nurses, owe a duty of care to their patients.

A healthcare provider is liable for medical malpractice if they:

• Fail to meet the standard of care: The provider’s actions fall below what is expected in their profession. This could be due to negligence, errors, or omissions.
• Cause injury to the patient: The provider’s actions directly cause the patient’s harm or injury.

Measures that should be taken to prevent prescription errors include double checking prescriptions to verify they are the correct medication and correct dose before dispensing the medication to a patient, implementing clear communication amongst healthcare providers, pharmacists, and patients; using Electronic Prescription Systems to help reduce errors by checking for drug interactions, dosage accuracy, and patient allergies; and providing ongoing training for healthcare staff on proper medication administration practices.   

A History of Results

We have an established track record of bringing our clients results they expect and deserve. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we know how to fight the insurance companies and medical facilities.

How to Prove a Prescription Error in Georgia

Proving a prescription error in a medical malpractice case requires demonstrating that:

1. A Duty of Care Existed: The healthcare provider or pharmacist had a responsibility to provide the correct medication and dosage to the patient.
2. Breach of Duty: The healthcare provider failed to fulfill their duty by making an error in prescribing, dispensing, or administering the medication.
3. Causation: The error directly caused harm to the patient, whether through injury, illness, or worsening of their condition.
4. Damages: The patient suffered damages, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, or lost wages, because of the prescription error.

Statute of Limitations for Prescription Errors in Georgia

In Georgia, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice claim, including prescription errors, is generally two years from the date the injury occurred. However, some exceptions may apply, such as in cases where the error was not immediately discovered. It’s crucial to consult an experienced attorney to ensure your claim is filed within the appropriate time.

How a Georgia Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured because of a medication error, our skilled attorneys can investigate your prescription error claim, gather the necessary evidence, and build a strong case. We understand the complexities of Georgia’s medical malpractice laws and will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Whether negotiating with insurance companies or representing you in court, we are committed to seeking justice for those seriously harmed or killed by prescription errors.

If you or a loved one has suffered severe injuries due to a prescription error, contact our Georgia medical malpractice attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation. We are here to help you every step of the way. Fill out our contact form or call us at 706-354-4000.