Accidental Drug Overdoses in Hospitals
It is not uncommon for hospital patients to be administered drugs during their hospital stays. Doctors are usually mindful about potential drug allergies or interactions and prescribe drugs accordingly. When they write the prescriptions, they include the drug name and dosage. Unfortunately, sometimes errors may occur, and patients may get receive overdoses without any ability to protect themselves.
If you or your loved received an accidental drug overdose during your hospital visit, contact the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130.
Causes of Accidental Overdoses
As with many things in life, prescriptions are prone to human error. Many of these errors may lead to an accidental overdose, especially when you have no control over how or when you receive the drug. Some common errors that may lead to a drug overdose are:
- Clerical errors, such as writing prescriptions down wrong
- Incorrect labeling
- Negligence
Any of these errors may lead to an accidental overdose, which may cause you a serious injury. Usually, accidental overdoses in hospitals are considered medical malpractice. Depending on where the error occurred, the person responsible may be the doctor who wrote the prescription, the pharmacist who filled the prescription, or the nurse who administered it to the patient.
No matter who is at fault, you may be entitled to financial compensation for any injuries you suffer as a result of an accidental overdose.
Contact Us
Drug overdoses may have serious long-term health effects. If you or someone you love has suffered an injury because of a drug overdose during your stay in a hospital, the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. may be able to help you. Contact us at 215-238-1130 to learn more.