Arlington Heights Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Errors Lawyers

Attorneys for Medication Mistakes in Rolling Meadows, Mount Prospect, and Schaumburg

Each year, thousands of patients throughout the country, including many here in Northern Illinois are affected by medication-related errors. The physical effects of such mistakes can certainly be dangerous, and possibly life-threatening, but the situation is often made even more frustrating by the realization that medication errors are almost always preventable.

At Newland & Newland, LLP, our team of qualified medical malpractice attorneys has been helping clients in Northern Illinois for nearly three decades. We understand that negligence by a doctor, nurse pharmacist, or pharmacy technician can cause pharmaceutical errors that result in serious injuries or death. If you or your loved one has suffered an injury related to a medication mistake, we are committed to helping you obtain full compensation.

Medication Errors by Medical Staff

There are many ways in which a pharmaceutical error could occur, and they start with the patient's initial interaction with his or her doctor. Assuming that the doctor has diagnosed the patient's condition properly, the doctor might display negligence by:

• Prescribing an incorrect medication to treat the diagnosed condition;
• Recommending a dosage that is far too high or that the patient take the medication too often;
• Failing to take the patient's medical history into account, including medication allergies and other medications the patient may be taking; or
• Recommending medication for off-label use.

Off-label use means that the medication has been approved for treating a certain condition but is being used to treat a different condition. Prescribing a drug for off-label use can be extremely dangerous.

In many medical offices, it is common for the nursing staff to call in a patient's prescription or to use the internet to send the doctor's order to the pharmacy. Errors can occur in the communication between the doctor and the nursing staff, as well as between the nursing staff and the pharmacy, resulting in the patient receiving the wrong medication.

Medication Errors by Pharmacy Staff

While doctors are responsible for many medication errors, the pharmacist and the pharmacy staff can also make mistakes because of carelessness or negligence. In addition to miscommunications with the doctor's office, the pharmacy could be liable for errors such as:

• Misreading the prescription form;
• Dispensing a "sound-alike" drug instead of the correct drug;
• Dispensing generics against the doctor's recommendation;
• Dispensing the wrong strength or an improper dosage; or
• Identification errors at pickup, leading to a patient getting the wrong medication.

Palatine Counsel for Prescription Drug Errors

Collecting compensation for a medication error begins by showing that the error was caused by negligence or substandard care by the doctor or pharmacy. At Newland & Newland, LLP, we will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances of your case to determine exactly how the mistake occurred and the party or parties who may be liable. We work closely with a trusted network of experts, including doctors and pharmacists, whose knowledge and experience is often helpful in proving negligence. No matter how complex your situation might be, our lawyers will do everything we can to get you the full compensation you deserve.

Call 847-797-8000 for a Free Phone Consultation

For more information about pharmacy errors and other pharmaceutical mistakes, contact our office. Call 847-797-8000 to schedule your free initial consultation and case review today. With five locations throughout the region, our firm serves clients in Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, Lake County, Kane County, Cook County, and the rest of Northern Illinois.