Prescription Errors

Thoroughly assessing a patient's needs and writing the proper prescription to correspond with those needs is a large part of a physician's responsibility. In some cases, though, patients can be given the wrong prescriptions, and there can be a number of serious consequences.

Dangers of Prescription Errors

One of the dangers of improper prescriptions is that the prescription you have been given does not work. If it is not the correct prescription for your particular condition, it will fail to do any good for you. Without proper treatment, your condition can become progressively worse.

Another danger of improper prescriptions is that use of the wrong medication can cause complications. You may have negative or allergic reactions to the medication, which can cause any number of additional health impacts. If you are taking other medications, there is also the danger of drug interaction. Drug interactions can range from one medication causing another to not work properly to dangerous reactions from mixing medications.

One of the most extreme examples of prescription errors involves medications prescribed to expectant mothers. When doctors fail to consider a drug's effect on a fetus, the child can be exposed to any number of negative effects. A birth defect that results from a prescription error can be devastating for a family. In this scenario, birth injury attorneys can help victims protect their legal rights.

Medical Negligence

Prior to writing a prescription for any medication, your physician should thoroughly assess your medical history and your current condition. Your physician should have full knowledge of any other medications that you may be taking. While most doctors do take this responsibility seriously, in some instances the doctor may not exercise the proper care when evaluating and diagnosing your condition. If this is the case, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim to recover compensation for any damages that may result.