What to Know About Pharmacy Malpractice Cases

Pharmacy malpractice falls under the umbrella of medical malpractice and occurs when a pharmacist or pharmacy technician fails to perform their duties competently and properly. Thousands of people are impacted by pharmacy malpractice every year, and the effects can cause serious health complications or even be fatal. In fact, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration receives over 100,000 reports annually associated with suspected or confirmed medication errors. Many of these cases can be linked back to the individual or team responsible for dispensing the medications properly.

What Is Pharmacy Malpractice?

Pharmacy malpractice can occur as a result of negligence, which often takes many forms. The staff in a pharmacy may disregard safety protocols and procedures when filling medication orders, putting the people who take those medications at risk. Poor communication between staff members can also result in malpractice, as can a lack of understanding of the products being dispensed and how they should be used safely and properly.

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can be associated with a number of errors that cause these issues to occur, such as:

• Mixing up patients and/or their prescriptions
• Dosing errors
• Failure to provide counsel to patients
• Prescribing medications without a valid license
• Distributing the wrong medication

Regardless of the situation, if you or a loved one has been impacted by pharmacy malpractice, the effects may diminish your ability to provide for your family's needs or even care for your own. In severe cases, pharmacy malpractice can lead to a preventable death.

What Can Happen as a Result of Pharmacy Malpractice?

Taking the wrong medication or an improper dosage can result in serious health issues. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, adverse drug events are linked to an estimated $3.5 billion in healthcare costs every year. Not only do these errors cost the healthcare system a lot of money, but they can also cause health conditions requiring extensive medical care and even preventable death.

Some of the injuries and health concerns associated with pharmacy malpractice include:

• Accidental overdose
• Allergic reactions, sometimes causing severe complications
• Organ failure
• Pregnancy complications or birth defects

An issue may arise immediately after taking a medication improperly or taking the wrong medication, or it could take years to develop.

Who Is Responsible for Pharmacy Malpractice?

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are most likely to be held responsible for malpractice related to medication reactions, improper dispensing, or other errors that cause adverse reactions. However, a prescribing physician may have prescribed the medication incorrectly, such as by providing the wrong dosage or improper instructions. When reviewing the medical records, a pharmacy malpractice lawyer can work to determine who is at fault for the resulting injuries.