Philadelphia Medication Error Attorney

Medication is necessary to treat illnesses and injuries and help you resume normal life as soon as possible. Although most physicians and pharmaceutical companies are diligent in prescribing correct medications, errors often occur. These medication errors can result in debilitating injuries, disabilities, addiction, and sometimes death.

Why Choose A Philadelphia Medication Errors Attorney From Ciccarelli Law Offices?

• At Ciccarelli Law Offices, we take pride in the service that we offer our clients. We are always available to answer a client’s questions or address their concerns as their case moves forward.
• We have amassed a strong network of medical experts that we can use to help bolster the strength of your case and move toward a fair settlement.
• Our team has amassed a strong record of success in recovering compensation through settlements and jury verdicts for clients throughout Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Why Use A Philadelphia Medication Error Attorney?

The complexity of medication usage means these errors are occurring often in and beyond the Ciccarelli Law Offices’ service area. If a medication error has caused you or a loved one serious harm, or if a loved one has died due to a medication error, our Philadelphia injury attorneys can provide you with the information you need to prepare and win your case (215) 228-0100

Why Are Medication Errors So Prevalent?

Medication errors exist for a number of reasons. One of the biggest is the sheer amount of medications available to physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and patients today. There are more than 10,000 prescription medications on the market today, and according to the Patient Safety Network, one third of American adults take more than five medications daily. All these medications mean that adverse drug events, or ADEs, are rampant. In fact, ADEs account for about 70,000 emergency room visits and 100,000 hospitalizations every year.

A physician can be held liable for a medication error even if an adverse drug event does not occur. It is crucial to understand the phrase “medication error” refers to any error occurring from the time medication was prescribed to the time a patient actually receives the medication. Medication errors can be of commission or omission. Even known side effects can be considered medication errors if they cause an adverse drug event or adverse drug reaction. These are known as non-preventable ADEs. However, over half of the ADEs occurring today are preventable, and many of those could have been mitigated if not entirely prevented.

Common Medication Errors In Philadelphia 

Medication errors occur in a wide variety of ways, but the most common medication errors that occur will depend on the type of situation a patient is in. For example, as noted by a Mayo Clinic editorial, medication errors are much more likely to occur in intensive care units where patients receive, on average, 25 medications a day. The authors of the editorial point out that medication errors are much less of a problem in practices such as obstetrics, where medications are typically avoided.

A professional study obtained from the National Library of Medicine focuses on medication dispensing errors and prevention. This study is helpful in highlighting some of the most common issues of concern, as discussed by the World Health Organization. Some of the most common medication errors include:

• Prescribing errors, including prescribing the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of the medication
• Prescribing a medication that is contraindicated based on the patient’s history or other medications
• Providing a deteriorated drug due to compromised storage
• Mistakes made by a nurse or other health care provider when actually administering the medication
• Inaccurate order transcription
• Issues with disseminating prescription medication knowledge to the patient
• Failing to obtain allergy history from the patient
• Incomplete order checking
• Mistakes when tracking medication orders
• Poor communication between healthcare officials
• Inaccurate patient information
• Giving a medication at the wrong time
• Incorrect route of administration for the medication
• Failure to monitor a patient after giving a medication

This is not a complete list of how medication errors occur in the Philadelphia area. If you suspect that you or a loved one have been harmed due to a medication mistake, we encourage you to reach out to a member of our team for a free consultation as soon as possible.

Consequences Of Philadelphia Medication Errors 

The Mayo Clinic editorial previously mentioned does point out that “most medication errors do not result in patient injury” and goes on to say that the injuries that do occur are more likely to happen when the medications are being prescribed (56%) and administered (34%) in a hospital setting.

However, the authors of the editorial do go on to say that, even though there are more studies of hospitalized patients than in outpatient settings, medication errors are clearly a problem in both groups, and many more prescription medications are consumed outside of the hospital than inside of the hospital.

The consequences of these medication errors, either in the hospital or in the outpatient setting, are often severe. Some of the main complications of these injuries include:

• One medication having an adverse reaction to another
• The patient being allergic to the medication
• The medication causing a severe internal illness or organ failure
• Incorrect dosage of a medication, thus not obtaining the desired effect

Unfortunately, medication errors can also lead to the death of a patient. Many prescription medications must be closely monitored, and if the wrong medication is given or the wrong dosage of a medication, or even if a patient does not receive the correct medication, fatalities can occur.

High-Risk Medications

Some medications place patients at higher risk of adverse events than others. Heparin is one of the riskiest medications available, especially when administered through IV because it depends on the weight-based dosage and can cause severe, even fatal, complications. These complications include the risk of blood clots and other bleeding events, such as bleeding out. A number of other anticoagulants are considered high risk for similar reasons. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, other high-risk drugs include:

• Epinephrine: This and other drugs for the treatment of allergies can cause severe reactions, especially if administered through IVs.
• Oxytocin: This drug is commonly associated with addiction and can cause other patient injuries as well.
• Chemotherapeutic agents: Along with known side effects such as nausea and hair loss, certain chemotherapeutic agents can cause lung and kidney damage, infertility, heightened risk of infection, and heightened risk of second cancers or cancer recurrence. Additionally, specific agents such as methotrexate may cause cognitive issues like poor memory and the onset of learning disabilities. Although most physicians are aware of these side effects, they can still be held liable if the dosage was incorrect, the drug was not administered properly, or other errors or negligence occurred.
• Insulin: Although insulin is helpful for patients with diabetes, it has long been associated with hypoglycemia, skin reactions such as rashes, and ocular conditions such as blurry vision, cataracts, and blindness.

How To Prove A Philadelphia Medication Error

Proving a medication error can be challenging, and we strongly encourage any person who has been harmed or suspects they have been harmed due to a medication mistake to reach out to a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Standing up to medical providers and medical agencies must be done with legal assistance and by your side.

An attorney will have the resources needed to conduct a complete investigation into the incident. This includes obtaining assistance from trusted expert medical witnesses who can examine you and all of your medical records. Additionally, an attorney can work to obtain the records needed from the medical facility and medical providers in order to thoroughly research what happened.

Proving that a medication error occurred involves showing the insurance carriers or the medical malpractice jury exactly what happened. It must be shown that a medical provider acted negligently in some way. This can include negligence caused by their actions or inaction. Your medical malpractice attorney in Philadelphia can methodically trace the medication orders that were given along with all communication between medical providers up until the time the medication was provided. They will also work to show how the medical providers reacted to the medication error if they reacted at all.

How Much Does A Philadelphia Medication Error Attorney Cost?

When you are thinking about working with a medication error attorney in Philadelphia, you should find one that takes claims on a contingency fee basis. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, we handle medical malpractice claims on a contingency fee basis because we understand how challenging it can be for individuals to afford quality legal assistance when they are going through major life changes. A medical error is a major life change.

When we handle a claim on a contingency fee basis, this means that clients are responsible for no upfront or out-of-pocket costs related to the case. We handle all of that on their behalf. Clients will pay absolutely no legal fees until after we successfully recover the compensation they are entitled to. In the event we do not win the case, clients will pay nothing.

If you have any concerns about how much it will cost to obtain legal assistance, please reach out to a member of our team for a free consultation today so we can put your mind at ease about the process moving forward.

Contact a Philadelphia Medication Error Lawyer

If you or a loved one has sustained illness, injury, or disability from a medication error, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers today. Our medical experts are familiar with the side effects of many medications and can help you determine what sorts of errors or negligence played into your injury. Since we try most of our medical cases rather than settling out of court, you can receive compensation. When you consult with us, we will determine the best way to win your case.