Medical malpractice can refer to a range of different types of medical mistakes and medical negligence including misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, surgical and anesthesia errors and medication errors. Medications are able to do significant good when they are properly administered, however, when medication is improperly prescribed or administered, the results can be serious.
Medication errors, which can include prescribing errors and medication administration errors, can lead to serious injuries and can also be fatal. Medication errors can include failure to monitor medication dosages; accidental medication overdose; dangerous drug combinations; mislabeling prescriptions; illegible handwriting on prescriptions; and additional medication errors. Medication errors may be made by doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. Depending on the circumstances, hospitals, in addition to doctors, nurses and medical professionals, may be liable for medication errors that cause harm to patients.
Victims of medication errors may suffer damages including medical expenses, pain and suffering damages and other types of damages. Family members of loved ones killed by a fatal medication error may suffer damages including medical and funeral expenses, loss of support and services, loss of companionship and pain and suffering damages, as well as other types of damages depending on the situation and circumstances.
Victims of medication errors may face financial and physical challenges during an already difficult time. Because of the vulnerable nature of victims of medical malpractice, and the serious harm they may suffer, victims of medical malpractice may be able to receive compensation for the damages they have suffered which may allow them to better focus on the recovery process.