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What Are The Most Common Examples Of Prescription Errors?
This is a guide containing examples of prescription errors. This article will look at the different types of prescription errors, how they could affect you, and when you might be able to claim compensation.
A guide with prescription errors examples
Some prescription errors lead to medical negligence. This means that a medical professional has breached their duty to provide a minimum standard of care. However, if the medical professional adhered completely to their duty of care, and an incident still occurred, you may not be able to claim compensation. What’s more, if medical negligence didn’t lead you to suffer mental or physical harm, you may not be able to claim.
Continue reading if you would like to learn more about examples of prescription errors. You can also get in touch with us directly at any time. Our team of advisors can offer free legal advice. They can also connect you to a specialist medical negligence solicitor, who could help you start your claim.
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Use our online claims form
- Message our online claims advisor below
Select A Section
- Prescription Errors: Examples Of Omissions Or Delays
- Prescribing A Known Allergen
- Examples Of Prescription Errors: Medication And Drug Interactions
- How Many People Are Affected By Prescribing Errors?
- What Could You Claim For These Examples Of Prescription Errors?
- What Is No Win No Fee?
Prescription Errors: Examples Of Omissions Or Delays
This section looks at what an omission or delay prescription error is and how it could occur. If a medical professional omits or delays a prescription, it could cause serious harm to the patient. This could include if a medication is not prescribed when it is indicated to be needed.
For example, if a patient was discharged from the hospital after surgery, they may require a certain medication for their continued recovery. Not providing this necessary prescription could disrupt the patient’s rehabilitation. If this medication was not prescribed due to substandard healthcare practices, this could be medical negligence.
Some medications also need to be taken at certain time intervals or points in the day. If this does not happen, the medication could have no effect on the patient, meaning their condition continues to worsen. Should a medical professional be required to administer the medication but fails to due to providing substandard care, this would be medical negligence.
If medical negligence leads to your undue suffering (whether mental or physical), you could claim.
Prescribing A Known Allergen
Sometimes, people could be allergic to certain medications or components of the medication. However, you would not be able to claim if you had an allergic reaction to something your doctor was unaware you were allergic to.
However, if you have an allergen on your medical record and a medical professional prescribes it anyway, this could be medical negligence. You could have an allergic reaction and come to harm.
For example, you may be allergic to penicillin. This may be noted on your medical record, but your GP still prescribes penicillin. Therefore, you could potentially have an allergic reaction that leads to further harm than your original injury or illness.
How Serious Could Allergic Reactions Be?
Allergic reactions can vary in severity, as it may depend on the person and the substance to which they are allergic. According to the NHS, most allergic reactions are mild, and symptoms may include:
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Blocked or runny nose
- Red and itchy rash
- Wheezing and coughing
- Sneezing
However, some people may suffer from a severe reaction called anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock. This could potentially be life-threatening, and symptoms may include:
- Breathing difficulties
- Clammy skin
- Confusion and anxiety
- Collapsing or losing consciousness
- Feeling faint
- Hives
- Sickness
If being prescribed a known allergen has caused you harm, get in touch to find out more about starting a claim.
Examples Of Prescription Errors: Medication And Drug Interactions
If you are prescribed more than one medication, you could be at risk of a drug interaction. This is when medications react badly to each other, leading to unexpected side effects. The more medication you are prescribed, the more you could potentially be at risk of a drug interaction.
A drug interaction could affect the functionality of your medication, or it could cause serious side effects.
How Could Drug Interactions Harm People?
A drug interaction could decrease the efficiency of your medication. If this happens, it could lead to your pre-existing condition worsening, when the medication should have been improving symptoms. It is important to note that you can only claim for the harm caused by medical negligence, not your original illness or injury.
Some medication interactions could even have serious side effects. For example, your blood level could increase, or one of the drugs could become more toxic to you.
How Many People Are Affected By Prescribing Errors?
In a 2018 study, researchers estimated that medical professionals make around 237 million medication errors every year in England. These medication errors cost around 1,708 people their lives every year. This could be at any stage of the process, but 21% of these errors are made during prescribing.
This study also showed that 72% of medication errors are minor, but about 1 in 4 have the potential to cause patients moderate harm. 2% of medication errors could possibly result in the patient coming to serious harm. Also, around 34% of harmful medication errors are prescription errors.
If you’ve been harmed in some way by one of the prescription errors examples in this article, you could potentially claim compensation. Contact us today to find out more.
Source: https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/237-million-medication-errors-made-every-year-in-england/
What Could You Claim For These Prescription Errors Examples?
This section includes a table of potential compensation amounts that you could receive as a general damages payout if you are harmed by medical negligence. General damages is the element of your compensation that covers the physical and mental suffering caused by medical negligence.
You would also attend a medical appointment so that a medical professional can evaluate the severity of your injuries and how they may continue to affect you. This would be key evidence for general damages.
| Injury | Severity | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deafness | (B) | £85,170 to £102,890 | Total deafness. |
| Illness/Damage Resulting from Non-traumatic Injury | (b) (i) | £36,060 to £49,270 | Severe toxicosis that causes serious and acute pain, vomiting, fever and diarrhoea. This will require hospital admission and may result in irritable bowel syndrome, haemorrhoids and a negative impact on enjoyment of life. |
| Bladder | (C) | £60,050 to £75,010 | Serious impairment of control with some related incontinence and pain. |
| Hernia | (B) | £6,580 to £8,550 | Direct inguinal hernia where there was no pre-existing weakness. There may be some risk of recurrence after repair. |
| Psychiatric | Severe | £51,460 to £108,620 | Marked issues with education, work, relationships and life in general. The prognosis for recovery will be very poor. |
| Lung Disease | (C) | £51,420 to £65,710 | Disease causing worsening and significant lung function with related breathing impairments, sleep disturbance, prolonged and frequent coughing and a restriction of employment and physical activity. |
| Chest | (F) | £2,060 to £5,000 | Collapsed lungs. A full and uncomplicated recovery is made. |
| Asthma | (E) | Up to £4,830 | Bronchitis, colds and mild asthma treated by a GP and resolving within a few months. |
| PTSD | Moderate | £7,680 to £21,730 | Claimant will have mostly recovered. Any lasting effects will not be greatly disabling. |
| Sight | (E) | £46,240 to £51,460 | Complete loss of sight in one eye. |
Injuries from medical negligence can sometimes also lead to financial losses. You can claim any financial losses back as special damages if you can prove they were directly related to the negligence or subsequent harm. For example, you could claim back any related travel expenses if you provide receipts.
You can also claim for future losses, such as a continued loss of earnings if you need to take time away from work to recover.
For our advisors to value your claim for free, why not get in touch?
Get A No Win No Fee Assessment Of Prescription Errors Examples Claims
If you’re considering hiring legal representation, you should know there are ways to fund a solicitor’s work. Our solicitors offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis. What could this mean for you?
- You don’t need to pay anything towards the solicitor’s fee before or during your claim
- Your solicitor only requires their fee if you receive compensation
- If your case succeeds, your solicitor deducts a legally capped success fee from your compensation amount
If you think a No Win No Fee agreement could be for you, contact our team of advisors today. They can offer free legal guidance about your claim and could connect you with a solicitor.
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Use our online claim form
- Message our online claims advisor below
References On Examples Of Prescription Errors
Thank you for reading our guide on examples of prescription errors. We hope it was useful. For further related references, please see below.
Doctor Prescribed Wrong Dosage – If you’ve come to harm due to your doctor prescribing the wrong dosage, use our guide to determine how to claim.
Wrong Medication Claims – Our article explains your rights if you’ve been prescribed the wrong medication.
Hospital Wrong Medication Negligence – If you’ve been given the wrong medication in a hospital, find out how you could claim.
NHS Resolution – This is the NHS’s legal branch that handles negligence claims.
Allergy UK – This registered charity aims to support those living with allergies.
Thank you for reading our guide about examples of prescription errors.
Written by Morrissey
Edited by Victorine
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