It is common for people to switch doctors multiple times, and this can cause a communication breakdown that might lead to deadly results. In order to reduce your risk of dealing with a prescription error, it is important to ensure that your doctor has access to your entire medical history. Additionally, you should remind them about the medication that you are already taking before you fill a new prescription. After all, even though your physician is responsible for looking into this information, it is better to take precautions. Sadly, this will not completely eliminate the possibility of a mistake. Therefore, it is also necessary to understand your legal rights.
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What Issues can be Caused by a Prescription Error?
If your doctor gives you the wrong medication, you could suffer from a long list of complications. For example, if you are allergic to penicillin, there are several medications that you should never take, including Keflex. Unfortunately, even if your doctor knows about your allergy, it is still possible that they could inadvertently give you the wrong prescription. If you proceed to fill the prescription and begin taking the medication, you are most likely going to begin experiencing severe side effects. In some cases, you could end up hospitalized or worse. Because of this potential issue, anyone who has medical allergies or who is already taking other medications should always take the time to look into potential negative drug interactions. Even if your doctor tells you that there will not be any issues, you should still double-check with your pharmacist. Additionally, websites such as WebMD.com can also provide you with a list of potential issues to watch for.
What if a New Medication Causes Issues?
As soon as you notice any serious side effects, you should contact your physician immediately. If necessary, you should go to the hospital or an urgent care facility to receive treatment. It is also important to keep the medication and any documentation you have that relates to your medical issue. After all, if you end up filing a malpractice lawsuit, you are going to need as much evidence as possible to prove your case. Keep in mind that the method that your doctor uses to administer medication can also have a negative impact on your health. For example, if you are given a shot at the doctor's office, it could include the wrong dosage or even the wrong drug.
Filing a Malpractice Case
If your doctor's mistake causes you to deal with serious health issues, you have the right to pursue legal action against them. Hiring an attorney who has experience and a proven history of representing malpractice cases is the ideal way to successfully navigate throughout the legal process. Look for one local to your area and one who is reputable and equipped to represent a client about prescription error. For example, if the error was made in central Maryland, then seek counsel pertinent to that area since they would be knowledgeable about all local, state and federal laws for the case.
Although everyone makes mistakes, you should never have to suffer at the hands of a physician who failed to ensure that they were prescribing the right medication for your issue. Therefore, it is important to keep all of the evidence so that you can file a malpractice lawsuit.
About author: Legal writer, Lisa Coleman writes to encourage a person to maintain good communications with their family physician, as well as with specialty physicians, about all current medical conditions, prescriptions they are taking, and known allergies they may have to prevent possible mistakes that can be easily made. Price Benowitz LLP, online at http://medicalmalpractice.maryland-injury-lawyer.com, is knowledgeable and equipped to vigorously represent any client who has been a victim of medical malpractice.