Pharmacy Errors And You Ways To Keep Yourself Safe
Have you been the victim of medical malpractice? Understand that medical malpractice isn’t limited to birth injuries or surgical errors. If you are given the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of medication, you could find yourself in the midst of a medical malpractice case. Here’s what you need to know.
Facing a medical issue can be stressful and difficult. Many adults struggle to deal with the side effects of an illness, which is one of the reasons that finding the right medication is important. Your doctor can work with you to help you understand your condition. They can also prescribe you medication that will help reduce your symptoms. Sometimes, however, medication does more harm than good. Medical malpractice regarding medication can happen when you are prescribed something that causes harm to you. Most commonly, this happens when you are given the wrong medication or an incorrect dose of your medication. If your doctor has prescribed you a new medication, there are several things you can do to protect yourself.
1. Talk with your doctor
Always discuss your medication options and prescriptions with your physician. When you meet with your doctor for a specific health problem, it’s important to disclose all of the medications you are currently taking. This includes vitamins and supplements, as well as over-the-counter medications. This is because medications sometimes interact with each other in a negative way. By discussing your medication with your doctor, your physician will be able to carefully prescribe something that will work for you. It’s also important that you discuss the name of the medication your doctor is prescribing you, as well as the dosage. Sometimes pharmacy errors occur when there is a breakdown of communication between a physician and the pharmacy. By speaking with your doctor about what you’ll be taking, you can sometimes minimize mistakes in these areas.
2. Read the labels
Ask your doctor to give you the name and dosage of the medication they are prescribing. Make sure you read all of the labels when you receive your medication. Does the label on the bottle match what your doctor told you? Does it match the receipt you were given at the pharmacy? Simply double-checking can often be an effective way to reduce pharmacy errors and to catch mistakes before you accidentally take an incorrect medication.
3. Examine the medication
Always look at the medication you receive with the pharmacist before you leave the hospital or pharmacy. Make sure the medication in your bottle looks the way it is supposed to. You can also ask the pharmacist to tell you what the correct medication looks like. They’ll be able to let you know exactly what color and shape the medication is. In some cases, the wrong medication
If you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice due to a pharmacy error, including receiving the wrong medication or being given an incorrect dosage of medication, don’t wait to get help. Always remember that each state has a statute of limitations that controls the amount of time you have to report an injury. Make the most of your case by reaching out to an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.