Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are entrusted by millions of people to properly fill and dispense their medications. Nine times out of ten, there are never any problems. But unfortunately, every now and then a pharmacist or pharmacy technician makes a mistake or error that injures, harms, or kills the patient. This is referred to as pharmacy malpractice, and legal action can be taken.

There are several errors that can result in a pharmacy malpractice lawsuit, such as:

• Dispensing the wrong medication
• Giving a patient another patient’s prescription
• Dispensing a medication the patient cannot have, either because he/she is allergic to it or because it cannot be combined with another medication the patient is already taking
• Giving the patient the wrong dosage instructions
• Misreading the doctor’s handwriting, thereby dispensing a different medication than what was prescribed
• Making a mistake while compounding a patient’s medication

A study conducted by the Institute of Medicine found that as many as 1.5 million Americans suffer from adverse side effects or health complications due to pharmacy errors. If you or a loved one is suffering from a health complication or debilitating injury due to pharmacy malpractice, you should speak with a personal injury attorney who has experience handling malpractice cases about what your legal options entail. Generally, if you can prove the pharmacist had a duty of care, and that he/she breached that duty of care resulting in your harm or injury, you stand to recover damages for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and decreased quality of life. 

At Lanier Law Group we have ample experience in North Carolina medical malpractice law, and would be happy to discuss your situation during a FREE consultation. Contact the office to schedule an appointment with a North Carolina medical malpractice attorney at Lanier Law Group today!