Queens Medication Error Attorney

Medication Errors Are Completely Preventable

Medication will only work if it is administered in the right dose for the right condition. It should not be given to a patient with a known allergy or to a patient who is taking another medication that would violently react to the new one.

Even the timing and taking medicine with or without food may impact its effectiveness and whether a patient experiences an adverse reaction. For these reasons, medication errors can cause serious harm or the wrongful death of a patient.

If you were injured or lost someone you love due to a medication error, you may be able to bring the responsible party to justice. Medication errors are preventable and can be traced back to some form of negligence or wrongdoing on the part of a healthcare professional.

Queens medication error attorney David Kates has been practicing law for over 20 years and can offer the guidance you need. Known for his tenacious and thorough approach, he builds every case as though it were going to trial. He stops at nothing to pursue maximum compensation for his injured clients.

For a free review of your medication error claim, contact us online or call (718) 866-3664.

NY Medical Error Statute of Limitations

In New York, injured patients have two-and-a-half years from the date of injury – or from the date that they discovered their injury was the result of malpractice – to file a medical malpractice case. Victims of medical malpractice may want to consult an attorney as soon as possible to discuss their case and opportunities for financial compensation.

An attorney can assist in securing important documents that may helpful in proving your injuries were caused by medical malpractice.

Medication Error Statistics

Medication errors are one of the most common forms of medical malpractice in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives more than 100,000 reports each year associated with suspected medication errors, with medication errors being responsible for anywhere between 7,000 and 9,000 annual deaths.

Care for patients suffering the effects of medication errors costs the U.S. nearly $40 billion each year, fueling the already growing distrust with the nation's healthcare system.

Types of Medication Errors

Medication errors occur when a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional:

• Prescribes or administers the wrong medication;
• Prescribes or administers the wrong dose;
• Fails to provide a patient with proper instructions related to medication;
• Administers a medication to which a patient has a known allergy; or
• Administers a medication that adversely reacts to another medicine the patient was taking.

Uncovering the Cause of Medication Errors

Any of the above errors may occur because a healthcare professional fails to diagnose a medical condition, does not thoroughly review a patient’s medical history, misdiagnoses an illness, or is careless in administering medication.

Poor handwriting was more of an issue in the past, but many of today's doctors use computer-based methods to prescribe medicine.

There are countless types of prescription drugs that can be administered for virtually any condition or complaint. Some have similar names and may look somewhat the same, so it is up to your doctor, nurse, and pharmacists to take proper care when prescribing and administering these.

Medical facilities should have policies in place to aid in the prevention of medication errors. Otherwise, a single mistake could seriously harm a patient.

For more information, contact Queens medication error lawyer David Kates at (718) 866-3664.