Administering Medication to Wrong Patient

Administering Medication to Wrong Patient

Boston Attorneys for Medical Malpractice Claims

Medication errors kill and seriously damage untold thousands of patients every year around the country. These errors strike patients both in and outside of hospital settings. Usually the errors go undetected until complications arise. By then, it may be too late to prevent damage to a patient’s health and well-being. Patients rely on their medical professionals to ensure that they receive proper dosing and selection of medications. This is especially true if you are hospitalized and dealing with a condition that prevents you from being fully engaged in your medical care. Many patients would be horrified to learn about how frequent it is for hospital staff to administer medication to the wrong patient (or administer the wrong medication entirely). At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our Boston medication error lawyers have seen how devastating an error can be for a victim and his or her family. We proudly assist Massachusetts residents and their families with seeking the compensation that they deserve.

Understanding the Issues Associated with Receiving the Wrong Medication

Receiving the wrong medication can have disastrous and even fatal consequences for a victim. There are many medications that come with serious warnings, especially when it comes to conflicts and bad interactions with other medications. There are many reasons why a medical professional may administer medication to the wrong patient. If the patient’s file is not updated in a timely fashion, other medical providers in the hospital could receive mistaken information. In some situations, busy nurses or medical staff members write the wrong information in a patient’s file or get two patients confused. According to a recent report from the FDA, nearly half of all medication errors that result in fatalities involve patients over the age of 60. This is partially because older individuals often have more health conditions that require medications. And unless you have a pharmacy background, it is often difficult to look at a prescription and know whether it is correct.

Bringing a Medical Malpractice Claim in Massachusetts

If you or someone you love was injured as a result of receiving the wrong medication, our attorneys can bring a medical malpractice action to recover compensation for your damages and expenses associated with the incident. Before you file your claim, we will conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether you will be able to establish the necessary elements. In a medical malpractice claim under Massachusetts law, the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the defendant medical professional did not use appropriate care and that this failure was the cause of the injuries that he or she suffered. The level of care that a medical professional owes to a patient has been generally established over time. In general, a medical professional is expected to use the same care, attention, and skill as other medical experts in the region with similar certifications or specialties when they are treating a patient with similar symptoms or medical histories.

Since this standard involves complex medical concepts and fields, it is almost always necessary for your lawyer to retain an expert witness to review your claim and to testify on your behalf regarding the defendant’s conduct and how it fell below the standard of care. After proving these elements, the lawsuit will turn to determining the amount of compensation that you are entitled to receive. There are many different categories of damages that you can obtain, including past and future medical expenses as well as your pain and suffering. A dedicated medical malpractice lawyer can help you ensure that you receive the full amount of damages that you deserve.

Retain a Knowledgeable Medication Error Lawyer in the Boston Area

We know that you probably have innumerable questions about your right to compensation following an incident of administering medication to the wrong patient. This can be even more stressful when you are also dealing with illnesses or medical complications that resulted from the incident. Our seasoned team of trial lawyers has guided many Massachusetts families through the legal process. We serve people in cities such as Boston, Cambridge, Waltham, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Quincy, Dedham, Norwood, Brookline, Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Plymouth, Worcester, Lawrence, and Springfield. To set up a free consultation to discuss a medication error or another incident of malpractice, such as a misdiagnosis or a surgical error, call us at 1-800-379-1244 or contact us online.