Modern prescription drugs can improve someone’s quality of life, cure a disease or even save a life. With the right drug at the right dose, modern pharmaceuticals can make a huge difference for a patient. However, when improperly administered, those same drugs can cause sickness and possibly even death.
If your family is still in the process of recovering after a medical mistake at a hospital cost your loved one in their life, you may wonder what rights you have. Those who have lost a loved one due to improper administration of a drug may be able to file a medical malpractice claim or possibly pursue a wrongful death claim depending on the circumstances.
Many medication errors happen because of negligence
The standard for seeking wrongful death compensation includes a requirement for the victims to show wrongful act, default or negligence on the part of the party responsible for the death. Medication errors that occur in medical facilities often stem from negligence. They also represent a deviation from best practices regarding drug administration and patient care.
Nurses may not properly identify the patient or the drug before handing out pills or connecting an IV bag during their rounds. Staff at a hospital can also make mistakes regarding the dosage, even if they do administer the correct drug to the right patient. Getting the wrong drug could result in a dangerous drug interaction or an allergic reaction in the patient. The wrong dose or the wrong timing could affect the efficacy of the treatment and possibly worsen someone’s prognosis.
Medication errors are almost always preventable with proper attention to detail and oversight. Patients affected by this kind of medical malpractice and their loved ones have rights after an adverse reaction to a medication error.