Medication Malpractice

    /24-7PressRelease/ - August 17, 2008 - In today's fast-paced world, it seems everyone wants a quick fix when it comes to ailments. "Just give me a pill that will make the problem go away, doc." It's the old story of the tortoise and the hare.

But, too many pills can be a bad fix. In some cases, it can be devastating.

What happens if the prescription you take for high blood pressure, for example, doesn't work well with the asthma medication prescribed to you by a specialist? If each doctor isn't double-checking what other medications you take, the interaction of those medicines, originally designed to help you, could make you sicker or, worse yet, kill you.

Situations like that can be considered medication malpractice. You can probably guess that the most common medication error is a wrong dosage. Other medication errors include:

• Misunderstanding of medical orders - Example: failing to adhere to a physician-ordered salt-free diet
• Blood type error - Example: failure to use proper blood type during transfusions
• Intravenous medication pump failure - Example: faulty valves allow too much or too little medication to be delivered
• Misinterpretation of test results - Example: blood work results are misread and the wrong medication is prescribed

The problem of medication errors doesn't just fall to the prescribing doctor, though. Nurses and pharmacists - even other attending physicians in hospitals - can misread, misinterpret or misdiagnose health conditions and wind up prescribing or providing the wrong medications.

While medical errors that lead to medication malpractice lawsuits are preventable, they will always happen somewhere. That is a sad, but true, fact. When they do, it is highly recommended that you seek expert legal council as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can't reverse any damage done by the medications prescribed, but they can help ensure you get the financial compensation you deserve. A qualified attorney can negotiate a settlement that will allow for current and future medical bills, rehabilitation if necessary, long-term care and more.

In the meantime, slow down. Don't be so quick to ask for a pill. Talk to your doctor and be sure you both understand your past and current health status. Make sure you understand all the ramifications associated with any medication about to be prescribed. Be the tortoise.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or died as a result of what could be medical malpractice in New Jersey or the Philadelphia metropolitan area, please visit Weiss & Paarz P.C. today.

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