Prescription Error Claims
In the UK, thousands of prescriptions are written every day as part of the service provided by hospitals and healthcare providers. Unfortunately mistakes do happen which result in serious health problems. As with any other type of errors made by healthcare professionals, prescription errors can also result in clinical negligence. This can give rise to medical negligence claims.
If you have suffered as a result of prescription errors made by doctors, healthcare providers or pharmacists, you may be eligible to make prescription error claims.
Types of Prescription Errors
Prescription errors can be caused due to many reasons. Some of the common ones include:
- incorrect medication being prescribed
- correct medication prescribed, but not the correct dosage
- medication prescribed which a patient has allergic reaction to
- medication prescribed for a much longer period of time
- prescribing adult dosage to a child
- incompatible medication prescribed together
- misdiagnosis leading to wrong type of medication being prescribed
Prescription errors can result in:
- allergic reaction
- blindness
- psychological illnesses
- brain damage
- digestive problems such as stomach ulcers and bleeding
- death
How Can Prescription Errors Be Avoided?
It is the responsibility of doctors, healthcare providers and pharmacists to ensure that they give patients the right prescription. But, it is also the responsibility of patients and their families to ensure that they take the right medication. There are certain measures that they can take to avoid prescription errors. These include:
- Checking the labels, contents and packaging of the prescription to ensure that they are same ones which had been prescribed.
- Ensuring that you inform the doctors and healthcare providers of any allergies or ingredients which you are allergic to.
- Reading leaflets which are enclosed with the medication to ensure that you are not taking two or more medications together which are incompatible.
- Seeking medical attention as soon as possible following any ill effects of the medication which you had been prescribed.
Making Prescription Error Claims
If you believe you have a prescription error claim, do not hesitate to contact our expert clinical negligence solicitors. Our personal injury claim solicitors will not only provide expert legal advice and free evaluation of your case, but will handle your case on a risk free No Win No Fee basis if it has merit.
To speak to our solicitors and find out more information about making prescription error claims, request a call back by completing our online claim form.
