Every year in the U.S., more than 4 billion prescriptions are filled to treat a variety of illnesses, diseases and injuries. With these numbers, it’s no surprise that mistakes happen frequently in filling prescriptions or prescribing medications. Fort Lauderdale drug overdose lawyer Lisa Levine helps patients who have been injured by medication mistakes to recover compensation from negligent medical professionals.
Prescription medications are a factor in 76.1% of all drug overdose deaths. While many, many doctors and pharmacists are excellent at their jobs, there are others whose carelessness and negligence compromise the health of their patients and can lead to their wrongful death. When these unacceptable mistakes occur, it is important to hold the doctor or pharmacist responsible.
How Do Overdoses Happen?
Prescription overdose injuries and deaths occur in a variety of ways:
Prescribing incorrect medication: This includes a physician writing a prescription for the wrong medication, for the incorrect dosage of a medication, or instructs a patient to take it too often.
Pharmacy errors: In some cases, the error is not due to doctor negligence but happens because the pharmacy provides the wrong medication or mislabels the medication, it can lead to serious complications for the patient.
Injury Victim
Incorrectly administering medications: When you’re in the hospital or at a doctor’s office, it’s common for a doctor or nurse to give you medication, whether through an IV, injection or pills. If the medication is administered improperly, it often happens because a medical professional has mixed up patient’s charts, incorrectly written down information, or misread instructions.
Painkiller Overdose Injuries
Among the most common types of medication involved in overdoses are painkillers, such as demerol, morphine or OxyContin. When a patient overdoses on prescription painkillers because of negligence by a doctor or pharmacist, it may be grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Painkiller overdoses can cause serious medical issues, leading to:
- Brain damage
- Internal organ damage
- Coma
- Death
If you or a loved one suffered as the result of the negligent prescribing or administering of demerol, morphine or other prescription painkiller, drug overdose lawyer Lisa Levine can help recover compensation for damages related to medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Get Help From A Fort Lauderdale Drug Overdose Lawyer Today
Prescription drugs are a profitable business in the U.S. While most medical professionals do their jobs well, with patient care as their primary concern, there are a minority who place profits above patient’s best interests. This can lead to medication mistakes such as prescribing the wrong medication, giving the wrong dose, or not properly explaining to a patient how to take the medication prescribed.
As an expert Fort Lauderdale drug overdose lawyer, Lisa Levine can evaluate your case to determine whether a malpractice claim is possible against a negligent doctor or pharmacist and help you obtain the maximum compensation possible. Contact Lisa Levine, P.A. today to schedule a free consultation.
