Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Children and Prescription Drug Errors
Prescription drug error is a fairly common medical mishap. Thousands of Americans are affected by prescription drug errors every year. Children are particularly vulnerable to prescription errors because of their small physical size and limited ability to metabolize high doses of drugs.
What Is a Prescription Drug Error?
A prescription drug error is the failure on the part of a medical professional to prescribe the correct drug or provide vital information regarding the prescribed drug.
One common error is prescribing the wrong medication. This tends to be the biggest concern among parents, as it can lead to immediate and very serious consequences. Prescription errors occur when:
- The practitioner prescribes the wrong medication for the illness
- Prescribes a medication that is contraindicated due to the patient’s other conditions or allergies
- Prescribes a medication for one patient when it was meant for another
Sometimes, the medication is correct but the dosage is not. Dosage errors are one of the most common prescription errors affecting children.
There are many ways to administer medication. The doctor should explain to the parent the correct way to administer the medication, how often to do so, and how much medication should be included each time.
If the method of administering the medication is not correctly explained, complications can occur.
Parents rely upon their child’s pediatrician to offer sound advice and effective treatments for the common ailments of childhood as well as any more serious conditions that may occur. When a doctor’s mistake breaks this bond of trust, the consequences can be life-altering.
What Causes Prescription Drug Error?
Medical professionals are held to a high standard when it comes to prescribing medications. They are required to follow safety procedures that are meant to:
- Reduce the possibility of physician error
- Make it easier for the pharmacist who fills the prescription to read and understand all the details of the prescription
- Enable the patient to use the drug in a safe and effective way
Most incidents of prescription error are caused by a doctor failing to follow prescription protocol due to carelessness or inattentiveness. These mishaps could have been prevented had the medical professional taken care to follow the specific regulations that cover prescribing medications.
What To Do If Your Child Has Been the Victim Of a Prescription Drug Error
Having a child suffer the effects of a prescription drug error is a terrifying and stressful experience for everyone involved. The error itself could result in new medical conditions or worsen the medical condition the prescription was designed to treat.
If you believe your child has been the victim of a prescription drug error, contact a child injury attorney that specialized in medical malpractice cases as soon as possible. Your attorney will help you gather the evidence needed to build your case and will fight for your family’s right to compensation.
When selecting a child injury attorney you’ll want to ask critical questions such as; how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with prescription error cases in Boston, Massachusetts; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
For more than 30 years the Kiley Law Group, located in Andover and Boston, Massachusetts, has fought on behalf of children. Our Boston medical malpractice attorneys take time when speaking with you about your child’s injuries. We work with you on a contingency basis, which means there are NO FEES unless our trained personal injury attorneys win your case. Call now for a FREE legal consultation – 1-888-208-1695.
