29 May What to Do If You’ve Been Harmed by a Pharmacy Error
It is the job of pharmacies to provide consumers, especially patients, with the correct medications in a safe way. But in some cases, mistakes can be made and you might be the one becoming a victim.
The National Library of Medicine says that medication errors are the most common cause of patient injury. This could have been easily prevented had it not been due to negligence.
You can contact pharmacy malpractice lawyers near you if you or someone you care about has been harmed by a pharmacy mistake. You can count on them to make claims against these pharmacies to pay for your injuries, medical bills, and emotional pain.
Understand your rights and learn the immediate actions you can take to hold those responsible for this error. Here are some steps you could consider taking next.
Recognize the Signs of a Pharmacy Error
Check out your medicine. If your medicine seems different than what you usually take, it could mean that something is wrong.
If the pharmacist dispenses the wrong amount of medication compared to your doctor’s prescription, this is also considered an error. It can either lead to overdose or undertreatment of the patient. Pay attention if you find strange side effects caused by the medicine you are taking.
Defective or dangerous medication can lead to safety issues. Review the expiration dates of the drug administered to you, as this will prove that this is a case of pharmacy malpractice.
It might have been done wrong if your prescription was filled too quickly or too slowly. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Immediate Actions to Take
Your health comes first. If you feel that an error in the medication was administered to you, stop taking the drug immediately.
Call your doctor right away to see if you were harmed and what to do next. If you have developed acute symptoms, don’t wait; get urgent medical assistance.
File a complaint with the pharmacy at the earliest, with hopes of keeping others from being afflicted with the same problem. Keep in hand all prescription bottles and any accompanying documents during the review process.
A trusted friend or family member can offer you support in these trying times. Follow urgent measures to lessen the possibilities of more injuries to your health.
Documenting the Incident
As soon as you recognize a pharmacy error, record the incident immediately.
Begin by documenting the time and day when the incident occurred and the place of the pharmacy. Note the names of the involved staff members. If you find a witness, obtain their names and contact information to gather their accounts of the incident. If you have a prescription or medication label, keep those around as well.
If possible, take pictures, especially of the medication you received versus the one you were supposed to get.
Note your symptoms or side effects resulting from the error and keep a record of all communications with healthcare providers concerning the incident.
The documentation will be key to comprehending the above and addressing it effectively.
Reporting the Error
An error at the pharmacy must be reported right away. Call the pharmacy where the mishap took place. Explain the situation to the pharmacist or whoever is in charge in clear terms. Present your documentation to support your claims.
Ask for a plan to correct the situation if you feel compelled to do so. Otherwise, consider reporting the issue to your local health department or the state board of pharmacy. Both can help track operations within pharmacies to avoid future errors.
If there were any consequences from the medication error, tell your doctor about what happened; the doctor can advise you about any medical follow-up that should be necessary.
This will ensure your welfare. At the same time, it will also improve pharmacy safety for all.
Seeking Legal Advice and Compensation
Any time injuries develop because some error was committed by a pharmacy, getting legal advice may be a big step in apprising the injured party of his rights and options. A competent attorney will be able to closely evaluate the situation and determine whether or not you have standing to sue for damages.
Your legal advisor will instruct you on what to gather for evidence. Primarily, those are medical records from the counters and documentation relating to the pharmacy.
It is your right to receive compensation after suffering medication injuries, including medical expenses and emotional suffering it has caused.
Speak about your concerns with your lawyers. It is one of their duties to guide you through this process and help you receive what is due for your sufferings.
It is more than just seeking justice if you fight for your right. It can also help prevent similar cases from happening to other people.
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More information:
- FDA: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability
- StatPearls: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519065/
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Last Updated on May 29, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD
