Medical malpractice is a serious issue in the United States, with many preventable and devastating consequences. According to statistics provided by the National Practitioner Data Bank, in 2018 there were 8,717 paid medical malpractice claims and $3.6 billion in total payouts by healthcare providers. This number has been steadily rising over the past ten years; from 2008-2018 the number of paid medical malpractice claims rose from 7,149 to 8,717 and total payouts increased from $2.9 billion to $3.6 billion.
Pharmaceutical malpractice is a major component of overall medical negligence in the United States each year. A closer look at pharmaceutical malpractice statistics in the country reveals three concerning points:
- More than 120 million medication errors occur annually in American hospitals alone
- Approximately 7,000 deaths occur due to such errors each year
- Up to 1.3 million Americans are injured by medication mistakes every 12 months.
There are five common types of pharmaceutical malpractice in the United States:
- Prescription errors
- Overprescribing
- Contraindicated medications
- Delayed diagnosis
- Inadequate patient education
Prescription Errors
The most common type of pharmaceutical malpractice is prescription errors. This occurs when a doctor prescribes the wrong drug, dose, or frequency due to negligence or lack of knowledge. These errors can lead to serious side effects and even death in some cases. It is important for healthcare professionals to take extra care when prescribing medications.
Overprescribing
Another common form of malpractice is overprescribing medication. This happens when a healthcare provider prescribes too much of a certain medication or gives multiple prescriptions for the same condition without reviewing all the risks and benefits involved. Sometimes this type of malpractice can cause patients to become addicted to their medications and lead to potential health complications.
Contraindicated Medications
This type of malpractice occurs when a doctor prescribes a medication that is contraindicated for an individual patient’s condition or medical history, where the drug itself could be dangerous for them if taken incorrectly or combined with other drugs they are taking at the same time.
Delayed Diagnosis
Delayed diagnosis is another form of pharmaceutical malpractice that can occur when healthcare providers fail to diagnose certain conditions in a timely manner, resulting in serious consequences due to delayed treatment and potentially worse outcomes than if the condition had been diagnosed earlier on in the process.
Inadequate Patient Education
Finally, inadequate patient education can also fall under pharmaceutical malpractice as it relates to providing incorrect information about medications, possible side effects, and interactions, as well as how different medications should be taken correctly, especially those with high-risk factors like opioids and tranquilizers. Providing insufficient information about these medications puts patients at risk for serious health issues if not used correctly or monitored properly by their doctor or pharmacist.
Pharmaceutical Malpractice: Justice, Accountability, and the Compensation You Deserve
If you’re the victim of pharmaceutical malpractice, The Doan Law Firm's pharmaceutical malpractice lawyer team is here for you. You can reach our nationwide personal injury law firm any time of the day or night by calling us at (800) 349-0000. We can schedule an initial consultation with an experienced, dedicated pharmaceutical malpractice attorney at any one of our 40 offices located across the United States, at your home, or at any other location that works for you. We can even arrange for a case evaluation online with one of our pharmaceutical malpractice lawyers. There is never a fee charged for an initial consultation.
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