Lakeland Pharmaceutical Injury Lawyer
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives more than 100,000 reports every year regarding a possible medication error, which is defined as any preventable mistake that leads to patient harm. Obviously, the definition extends to misconduct by health care professionals, but you might be surprised to learn that pharmacists also have a duty with respect to delivering medications. When they fail in this obligation, they can cause serious pharmaceutical injury for patients.
You do have rights under Florida law if you suffered harm because of an error by a pharmacy practitioner, but you may not know where to begin with enforcing them. Our team at the Pawlowski // Mastrilli Law Group has extensive experience helping victims like you, as our core practice area is personal injury matters. To learn how we can help, please contact our office to set up a no-cost case evaluation with a Lakeland pharmaceutical injury lawyer. You might also benefit from reviewing some general information.
Complications from Pharmaceutical Errors
When a health care practitioner makes a medication mistake, there are two general implications:
- The patient doesn’t get the proper drug to treat the underlying medical condition. Without essential care, that person’s ailment may worsen or become chronic; and,
- The patient could suffer because the medication causes extensive harm, such as might occur through an interaction with other drugs, risk factors, medical history, or allergies.
If either or both of these factors is present, some of the complications for the patient include:
- Death;
- Life-threatening harm, such as heart attack or stroke;
- High blood pressure;
- Hospitalization;
- Damage to internal organs;
- Disability;
- Birth defects; and,
- Many others.
Legal Liability for Pharmaceutical Injuries
There are multiple theories of legal liability in these cases, since there are numerous parties that may have contributed to the medication error. Our lawyers at Pawlowski // Mastrilli Law Group are well-versed in the strategies to pursue all remedies, including claims against:
Pharmacists: Medical malpractice laws don’t apply to pharmacy practitioners in Florida, but these individuals still owe a legal duty to patients when dispensing medications. If they deviate from the accepted standard of care in their field, pharmacists can be liable for negligent acts. Examples include failing to deliver the proper dosage, giving out the wrong medication, or not including essential information about side effects or drug interactions.
Physicians: Doctors may err when writing up a prescription, especially where they don’t properly review the patient’s chart. A physician should know from medical history whether it’s dangerous to prescribe drugs to individuals with certain conditions.
Drug Manufacturers: Despite getting FDA approval to offer medications, many drugs aren’t safe because of defects in design, manufacturing, or labeling.
Contact a Lakeland Pharmaceutical Injury Lawyer About Your Options
If you sustained losses because of a pharmacy error, it’s essential to retain skilled legal representation right away. Our lawyers at the Pawlowski // Mastrilli Law Group are prepared to fight for your rights and pursue all legal remedies available under Florida law. Please call 863-285-3746 or go online to set up your free consultation today.