When visiting your local pharmacy to fill a prescription, you expect to collect the medication your physician ordered. Errors made by pharmacists can put your health and life in jeopardy. Previously, a pharmacist error was considered part of a negligence claim. However, in recent years, such errors have been defined as medical malpractice, as pharmacists are also medical professionals, according to Florida Statute § 766.101(2)(b).
At Distasio Law Firm, our committed medical malpractice attorneys believe that a severe pharmaceutical mistake endangering your life warrants legal action. Pharmacists should be held to the highest standard of care and responsibility. A skilled Largo pharmacy malpractice lawyer could apply knowledge of law and medicine to pursue compensation for you and ensure accurate future prescriptions.
Common Errors Pharmacists Make
Medication errors are not isolated incidents. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration receives about 100,000 reports of medication errors annually. While not all are not pharmacy-related, about 1.5% of prescriptions filled at community pharmacies are dispensed in error. Pharmacy negligence may encompass the following:
- Distributing the wrong medication
- Distributing an incorrect dosage
- Failure to warn a patient of adverse side effects
- Failure to check potential adverse interactions between current and new prescriptions
- Failure to review medical history for allergies or adverse reactions and dispensing a drug that triggers a reaction
Pharmacy malpractice is actionable only if the patient taking the incorrect medication is harmed. A Largo pharmacy negligence lawyer could help establish harm by analyzing medical records and determining how the pharmacist erroneously dispensed the drug.
Establishing a Pharmacist Medical Malpractice Claim
Medical malpractice claims mirror personal injury claims, as both require proving that you suffered harm because of someone else’s actions. You must also prove an established patient-pharmacist relationship and demonstrate the pharmacist’s failure to uphold prevailing standards.
You could be entitled to compensation if you can prove that your pharmacist was negligent. A dedicated Largo pharmacy malpractice attorney, like Scott Distasio, could negotiate with the pharmacy’s insurer. At Distasio Law Firm, we also have the experience and resources to take your case to court and convince a jury what your losses are worth.
Recoverable Damages in Pharmaceutical Error Claims
When you file a pharmaceutical error claim, you could be entitled to current and future medical bills depending on the harm of the incorrect medication. You may also be awarded payments for lost future income, reduced quality of life, and lingering side effects. These side effects could include disfigurement, internal damage, exacerbation of a condition, or the development of a new one.
Statute of Limitations for Pharmacy Malpractice Claims in Largo
Effective March 24, 2023, Florida reduced the Statute of Limitation for personal injuries from four years to two in HB 837. However, pharmacy negligence is considered medical malpractice, maintaining its two-year filing limitation. Your proactive pharmacy negligence lawyer could undertake your claim and ensure you meet all filing deadlines.
A Largo Pharmacy Malpractice Attorney Fights for Your Safety
Medical professionals should never compromise your well-being and walk away without paying for their mistakes. Dispensing the incorrect drug or dosage is more than a negligent act. It is an irresponsible act that should be rectified to ensure your safety.
At Distasio Law Firm, we pride ourselves on holding negligent pharmacists accountable for their wrongdoings. Pursuing a claim is vital for public safety and to compensate you for all you have suffered. A Largo pharmacy malpractice lawyer is here to correct the injustice you have experienced. Call our firm today to set up a consultation with Scott Distasio.
