Virginia Medical Malpractice Blog - Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C.

Will Someone Take Responsibility for Medication Errors?

Thousands of times a day a patient is injured due to a medication error.  In many cases the patient tragically dies.  We have seen this happen with blood thinners (Coumadin, Lovenox & Heparin), antibiotics (Gentamicin, Vancomycin, etc.) and numerous other medications.  Instead of taking responsibility, doctors, nurses, hospitals and pharmacists start playing the blame game. 

Holding those responsible for medication errors often falls on the shoulders of attorneys.  As attorneys much of our work occurs even before we file a lawsuit.  In the investigation we search all of the relevant medical records including physician notes, nursing notes, and pharmacy records.  We retain experts in these fields to advise us how the medication errors could have been prevented.  Finding qualified experts is a challenge in itself.  Our senior trial lawyer, Tom Williamson, has published several articles on expert witnesses that are available in our online library.  

Our goal is to file the lawsuit early enough that we will have time under the statute of limitations to add new defendants if one health care provider starts pointing fingers at another.  

The following are common types of medication errors:

• Doctor writing the incorrect dose on the prescription,
• Doctor prescribing medication that the patient is allergic to,
• Nurse administering the wrong prescription to the patient.  Often the prescription is intended for another patient,
• Nurse administering the medication incorrectly (ex. vein as opposed to muscle),
• Pharmacist misfilling the prescription (wrong dose or wrong medication),

Medication errors occur in hospitals, nursing homes, and doctors' offices.  Because they occur so frequently we have devoted a practice page to medication errors.  Please visit our medication error practice page for more information or contact us at (804) 288-1661 or by email if you or a loved one is a victim of a medication error.

Regards,

Joshua Silverman

Labels: blood thinner, Coumadin, Heparin, Josh Silverman, malpractice, Medication error, pharmacy error