Waukegan Medication Error Lawyer

Injured or ill patients who require medical treatment often need to take medications as part of the healing process. Patients rely on the judgment of healthcare professionals to administer the right drugs in the correct doses. Yet, every year, over 1.3 million Americans suffer the negative effects of medication errors, with around 7,000 losing their lives as a result.

Whether it is an incorrect prescription or improper drug administration, victims end up paying for medical professionals’ mistakes. If you have been harmed due to a bad prescription or medication administration, you have recourse. A Waukegan medication error lawyer from Schlack & Bassmaji could help you pursue and recover financial relief for your discomfort. Contact our experienced medical malpractice attorneys today to discuss your case in English or Spanish.

Why Do Medication Errors Occur?

When doctors prescribe a medication, patients implicitly trust that it will help them feel better, not worse. When a patient takes the prescribed medicine—or a healthcare professional administers it—and they get hurt, they may wonder why.

Mistakes in the prescription or administration of drugs as part of a treatment plan typically occur for the following reasons:

• Illegible or indecipherable handwriting on the prescription pad
• Staffing shortage at healthcare facilities, resulting in overworked and exhausted workers who make mistakes while interpreting prescriptions or administering medications
• Mix-up in patient charts or medical records, leading to patients receiving medications prescribed for others
• Labeling errors from pharmacies or inexperienced staff administering medications
• Administering a mix of medicines that are incompatible or have antagonistic mechanisms
• Missing vital patient information—for example, an allergy to certain medications such as penicillin
• Wrong drug administration due to a misdiagnosis, or underdosing or overdosing the patient
• Not adhering to the recommended medicine administering schedules
• Failure to implement emergency intervention protocols in the event of an adverse reaction to the medication

Medication errors can lead to adverse drug events, allergic reactions, additional medical procedures, prolonged hospital stays, organ damage, temporary or permanent disability, or death. A medication error attorney in Waukegan could help victims of these mistakes seek justice and receive financial relief for their troubles.

Proving Liability in a Medication Error Lawsuit

Filing an injury claim for errors in prescribed or administered drugs often involves establishing the four elements of negligence. You and your attorney must first show that the person who prescribed or administered the medicine had a duty of care to them.

There must be a clear breach of duty where the medical professional failed to provide the required standard of care through negligence, honest mistake, or oversight. You must show that, as a result of the medical personnel’s failure to provide a reasonable standard of care, you were harmed. Finally, your legal team must show that, due to the harm the medication caused, you suffered losses such as increased medical expenses, longer hospital stay, and lost pay because of prolonged periods away from work.

Once these are established, you can proceed to file a medication error lawsuit with help from an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Waukegan.

Contact a Waukegan Lawyer About a Medication Error Case

Injury claims for errors in filling prescriptions or administering drugs to ailing patients can be a difficult and complex process. You need skilled legal representation to ensure a fair settlement.

Our Waukegan medication error lawyer at Schlack & Bassmaji could help you protect your rights, identify liable parties, prove your case, and recover compensation for your losses. Contact us to schedule a case evaluation today.