Prescription medications may be a crucial part of a person’s health and recovery and when a patient takes an appropriately-prescribed drug, their condition and quality of life is expected to improve. Unfortunately, medical professionals may make mistakes when prescribing or dispensing medication and a patient who is prescribed the wrong medicine may face severe injuries as a result.
If you believe that your prescription medication has caused you harm, speak with a New Port Richey prescription drug errors lawyer to learn about your legal options. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to file a lawsuit against your doctor, pharmacist, or the drug’s manufacturer to seek just compensation for your losses with the help of a medical malpractice lawyer.
Common Causes of Prescription Medication Mistakes in New Port Richey
Healthcare professionals and drug manufacturers alike bear a responsibility to protect consumers from any needless risk of harm from prescription drugs. When these parties fail to exercise due care, harmful mistakes can happen. Some ways negligence often leads to prescription medication problems include:
- Drug manufacturers distributing untested or dangerous medications
- Inadequate warning labels on medications detailing side effects
- Doctors not considering less-dangerous forms of treatment for patients
- Pharmacists dispensing the incorrect medication or an improper quantity or dose
- Medical professionals failing to note potential negative interactions with other drugs the patient uses
Any errors of negligence relating to prescription drugs may support a lawsuit for compensation. Negligence occurs when a person does not exercise an appropriate amount of care or concern for another’s safety under the circumstances. In situations where negligence is not immediately apparent, plaintiffs in New Port Richey may wish to consult with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to determine if a valid claim exists.
Economic and Noneconomic Harm in Prescription Drug Injury Cases
Consumers of prescription drugs may suffer a wide variety of losses and expenses when errors occur. A consumer may suffer economic harm in the form of bills, invoices, and financial losses. This includes the costs of hospital stays or doctors’ appointments, other prescription medications needed to treat the consumer’s original condition, earnings from work the consumer could not earn due to hospitalization or attending appointments, and other financial losses.
Noneconomic losses that are compensable usually include the experience of pain and suffering, a decline in the consumer’s quality of life, and the loss of chance of recovery if a person’s life expectancy is negatively affected. Assigning a monetary value to these losses is generally difficult but experienced lawyers could help victims pursue the proper amount of damages they are owed.
In some instances, punitive damages may also be available if a defendant intentionally hurt the patient or their conduct was wantonly dangerous. Punitive damages are not usually appropriate in medical malpractice cases but when the errors go beyond simple negligence, victims may be owed these damages as well.
A New Port Richey Prescription Medication Issues Attorney Could Help
If you believe you were harmed as a result of a medication that your doctor prescribed to you, speaking with a New Port Richey prescription drug errors lawyer may help you protect your legal rights and find justice. A lawyer could help you fight for the compensation you need so call today to speak with a dedicated legal advocate.
