Medication Errors

Medication Error Attorney in Albuquerque

Helping Victims of Medication Errors in New Mexico

Medication errors may be pursued with the guidance of an experienced professional, and our office can provide that guidance. For more than 40 years, the attorneys at James Wood Law have aggressively pursued personal injury cases of every nature, and our office is intimately familiar with lawsuits and claims involving medical malpractice.

FDA Medication Error Prevention

Medication errors are such a widespread issue across the U.S. that an entire branch of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been devoted to attending to the problem.

The Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis (DMEPA) exists within the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), and its purpose is to monitor and prevent medication errors related to the naming, labeling, packaging, and design of CDER-regulated drug products.

Cases of medical malpractice that are brought to James Wood Law are often related to issues concerning some type of medication error. For this reason, our lead Albuquerque medication injury lawyer frequently refers to the research that is conducted by federal professionals who work in the DMEPA.

You won’t have to pay any fees until you win. Call our Albuquerque medication error attorneys at (888) 579-3866 or fill out an online form to schedule a FREE consultation!

Understanding Medication Errors & Legal Recourse

Medication errors may involve medical negligence.

These errors still occur, however, and in many cases the problem can be traced back to the medical provider who initially issued the drug. A medication error can happen at any stage:

A physician writes the wrong prescription
A pharmacy dispenses the wrong drug or incorrect strength
A nurse administers medication by the wrong route
A prescriber overlooks a dangerous drug interaction

Among the nearly 1.3 million people who are injured in the U.S. each year after suffering from a medication error, many are the victims of a doctor’s own professional negligence. An FDA study conducted between 1993 and 1998 revealed that the most common cause of fatal medication errors was an incorrect dosage; it accounted for approximately 41% of all fatal cases investigated. The wrong drug was identified as the cause in 16% of fatal errors, and the incorrect route of administration accounted for another 9.5%.

According to its findings, among the patients who were most at risk of being harmed by a medication error were persons over the age of 60. The study’s findings, however, did not exclude any age group, concluding that people of all ages are susceptible to the harms of medical malpractice that can be related to an error in medication.

How to Claim Compensation for Medication Error Injuries

When pursuing a medical negligence case, it is crucial to gather evidence and build a strong legal claim. Our attorneys have the knowledge and resources to thoroughly investigate your case, consult with medical experts, and evaluate the negligence of the healthcare provider or facility. Relevant evidence can include prescriptions, pharmacy records, medication-administration records, medical records, and communications about the error. Because New Mexico medical-malpractice requirements, claim deadlines, and available remedies can vary with the facts and the type of healthcare defendant involved, speaking with a medication error lawyer in Albuquerque as soon as possible can help you understand your options.

You may be able to recover damages for:

Medical expenses, including past and future treatments
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Pain and suffering/emotional distress
Wrongful death (for fatal medication errors)

Proving Negligence in Albuquerque Medication Error Cases

When pursuing a medication error claim, it is crucial to establish the following:

Proof of a doctor-patient relationship
Evidence of the healthcare professional’s negligence
A direct link between the negligence and the harm caused
The extent of damages suffered as a result

At James Wood Law, we are committed to pursuing accountability for negligent healthcare professionals and compensation for clients. A medication mistake alone doesn’t establish liability; the evaluation must also address the applicable standard of care, causation, and actual harm. Depending on where the breakdown occurred, a claim may involve a physician, nurse, pharmacist, pharmacy, hospital, or another healthcare entity.

Prescription Errors & Drug Dispensing Mistakes

Prescription and drug dispensing errors represent a significant category of medication-related harm. These mistakes can include selecting the wrong drug, strength, or formulation; filling the wrong prescription; confusing similar medication names or packaging; and failing to identify known allergies or dangerous drug interactions. If you believe a pharmacy or prescribing provider made an error that caused you harm, a prescription error attorney in Albuquerque can help evaluate the circumstances.

Evaluating a potential dispensing claim typically involves comparing the original prescription against the dispensing record, label, medication received, and subsequent treatment records. Our attorneys work to identify where the process broke down and whether the conduct fell below the standard of care required of the provider. It’s worth noting that not every adverse reaction signals a dispensing error; a drug dispensing lawyer looks at whether the error was preventable and whether it caused actual injury.

Hospital Medication Administration Errors

Medication errors that occur inside a hospital or clinical setting often involve a different set of facts. Staff may administer the wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong patient, or wrong route, fail to follow physician orders, overlook contraindications, or neglect to monitor a patient after administration. Communication breakdowns during admission, discharge, transfer, or handoff between care teams can also contribute to dangerous medication discrepancies.

Relevant records in these situations may include physician orders, medication-administration records, nursing documentation, pharmacy verification records, allergy records, and discharge instructions. Our firm investigates these cases with the help of medical experts who understand hospital protocols and the standards expected of clinical staff. If a hospital or facility’s negligence contributed to a medication injury, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim in New Mexico.

Contact us today at (888) 579-3866 to discuss your case with an Albuquerque medication error lawyer in a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.

When Experience Matters, Hire the Best

Multiple Verdicts and Settlements Obtained of $5,000,000 or More
Settled Hundreds of Cases Successfully
Board Certified Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®
SuperLawyers in Medical Malpractice Law

One Wrong Prescription Can Change a Life.

Whether it’s the wrong dosage or the wrong drug, medication mistakes can cause serious injury—or worse. With over 60 years of experience and Board-Certified representation, James Wood Law knows how to hold negligent providers accountable. We offer free consultations and home or hospital visits.

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