Pharmacy & Medication Errors Lawyers: Fighting for Victims of Dangerous Pharmaceutical Mistakes

When you pick up a prescription from your local pharmacy, you expect it to be safe. You trust that your doctor prescribed the right medication and that the pharmacist will dispense it correctly. 

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

A pharmacy or medication error can result in serious health complications—or worse. At Morgan & Morgan, we understand the life-altering consequences of these mistakes, and we fight to hold negligent parties accountable.

Our experienced pharmacy and medication error lawyers are here to help victims and their families seek justice. If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a pharmaceutical error, we may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. 

Contact us today for a free case evaluation to learn more.

What Are Pharmacy & Medication Errors?

Pharmacy and medication errors occur when a patient receives the wrong drug, the wrong dosage, or improper instructions related to their medication. These mistakes can happen in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, retail pharmacies, or long-term care facilities.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), medication errors injure an estimated 1.3 million Americans each year. Some of these mistakes are minor. Others lead to hospitalization, permanent injury, or even death.

Common types of medication errors include:

• Dispensing the wrong medication due to similar drug names or packaging
• Incorrect dosage, either too much or too little
• Labeling or instruction errors
• Failure to check for drug interactions
• Administering drugs to the wrong patient
• Not accounting for a patient’s allergies or medical history

While not every adverse reaction is caused by negligence, many medication errors are entirely preventable.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Several parties in the healthcare system may share responsibility for a medication error. That includes:

Pharmacists & Pharmacies

Pharmacists are responsible for accurately filling prescriptions, checking for interactions, and ensuring patients understand how to take their medication. When they fail in these duties, due to distraction, fatigue, or understaffing, the consequences can be deadly.

Doctors & Prescribing Physicians

Physicians can be held liable if they prescribe the wrong medication, fail to review a patient’s medical history, or don’t communicate clearly with the pharmacy.

Hospitals & Clinics

In institutional settings, medication errors can occur when staff fail to follow established protocols, such as double-checking the patient’s identity or dosage. Hospitals can be held liable under the doctrine of vicarious liability.

Nurses & Other Medical Professionals

Nurses who administer drugs or fail to monitor for adverse effects may also be liable if their negligence contributed to a patient's harm.

Drug Manufacturers

If the medication itself was improperly labeled or contaminated during production, the manufacturer may be held responsible under product liability laws.

Consequences of Pharmacy Errors

Medication errors are more than just technical mistakes and can change a person’s life in seconds. Victims may suffer from:

• Seizures
• Organ damage
• Heart failure
• Respiratory arrest
• Stroke
• Long-term disability
• Psychiatric consequences
• Death

One widely publicized case involved a 2-year-old girl who died after a pharmacy mistakenly filled her prescription with 10 times the appropriate dose of chemotherapy medication. In another, an elderly patient suffered a stroke after being given the wrong blood pressure medication.

At Morgan & Morgan, we’ve seen firsthand how a seemingly minor error can escalate into a devastating health crisis. And we believe the people responsible should be held accountable.

How Do You Know if You Have a Case?

If you suspect a medication error caused harm to you or a loved one, you may be wondering what steps to take. It’s not always easy to identify negligence right away. Many adverse effects mimic symptoms of underlying conditions or go unnoticed until complications arise.

Here are a few warning signs that something may be wrong:

• You received a medication you don’t recognize
• The dosage seems much higher or lower than expected
• The instructions contradict what your doctor told you
• You suffered unusual side effects after starting a new medication
• You were hospitalized soon after taking your prescription
  
   

To determine if you have a case, our legal team will investigate:

• Medical and pharmacy records
• Prescriptions and drug labels
• Communication between healthcare providers
• Expert testimony from medical professionals
• Whether safety protocols were followed

We work with trusted experts to evaluate the circumstances of your case and build a strong argument for negligence.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Victims of medication errors may be entitled to financial compensation for:

• Past and future medical bills
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability
• Wrongful death (for families who lost a loved one)

Each case is unique. The amount you may be able to recover depends on the extent of the injury, your prognosis, and the level of negligence involved.

Our attorneys work closely with economists, life care planners, and medical experts to accurately calculate the damages you’re owed.

Common Challenges in Medication Error Lawsuits

Pharmacy error cases can be legally complex. You’ll need to show that:

1. A duty of care existed (e.g., a doctor or pharmacist was responsible for your treatment)
2. That duty was breached through negligence
3. The breach directly caused your injury
4. You suffered measurable damages as a result
    

The defense, however, may argue any of the following:

• The harm was caused by your underlying condition
• You failed to follow the instructions
• There were unforeseeable allergic reactions

That’s why it’s so important to work with experienced lawyers who know how to counter these arguments and present a compelling case.

Medication Errors in the Age of Automation

Modern pharmacies often rely on automated systems to fill prescriptions quickly and accurately. But automation isn’t foolproof. In fact, overreliance on technology can create new forms of risk. 

For example, barcode scanners may not catch human entry errors, and automated dispensing machines can malfunction. Electronic health records may also contain outdated or incorrect information.

Even with these advancements, human oversight is essential. Pharmacies and healthcare providers must implement multiple checks and balances to protect patients.

What to Do if You’ve Been Harmed by a Medication Error

If you believe you’ve been the victim of a medication mistake, take the following steps:

1. Seek medical attention immediately. Your health is the top priority.
2. Save the medication, packaging, and prescription label. This can serve as key evidence.
3. Request copies of your medical and pharmacy records.
4. Avoid discussing your case with insurance companies before speaking with a lawyer.
5. Contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation.

Even if you’re not sure whether you have a case, our team can walk you through your options.

How Morgan & Morgan Can Help

We know how overwhelming it can be to face a medical crisis, especially one that could have been prevented. That’s why we handle every aspect of your claim, from start to finish, so you can focus on healing.

When you hire Morgan & Morgan, you get a nationwide network of experts, aggressive legal representation, and proven results, all for no upfront fees.

Our firm works with leading pharmacists, toxicologists, and physicians who can analyze your case and testify in court if necessary. We’re not afraid to take on large hospitals, pharmacy chains, or insurance companies, because our team of trial attorneys has the resources and experience to fight and win even the most complex cases.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our motto is the Fee Is Free®, and you never have to pay out of pocket.

With over $25 billion recovered for our clients, Morgan & Morgan has a long track record of getting justice in medical malpractice and injury cases. We may be able to help your case, too.

Pharmacy and medication errors are preventable, and those responsible should be held accountable. If you or a loved one has been injured by a prescription mistake, don’t wait. The clock may already be ticking on your ability to file a claim.

Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.