Pharmacy Errors

According to the Institute of Medicine, pharmacy errors injure 1.5 million people each year in the United States. The extra medical costs of treating drug-related injuries occurring in hospitals alone conservatively amount to $3.5 billion a year, and this estimate does not take into account lost wages and productivity or additional health care costs.

If you have suffered due to a Minnesota pharmacy error or medication errors an attorney at Fields Law Firm is ready to help. Please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation.

Side effects of prescription medications can sometimes be life-threatening and lead to permanent injuries. Medication errors can occur when the drug is initially prescribed and when the prescription is filled including incorrect dosages. The Institute of Medicine cited studies that indicate 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries occur each year in hospitals. Another 800,000 occur in long-term care settings, and roughly 530,000 occur just among Medicare recipients in outpatient clinics. The committee noted that these are likely underestimates.

There is not enough data to accurately determine all the costs associated with medication errors. The conservative estimate of 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries in hospitals will result in at least $3.5 billion in extra medical costs this year, the committee calculated according to a 2006 study. A study of outpatient clinics found that medication-related injuries there resulted in roughly $887 million in extra medical costs in 2000 — and the study looked only at injuries experienced by Medicare recipients, a subset of clinic visitors. None of these figures take into account lost wages and productivity or other costs.

Medication errors include all mistakes involving prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements. Errors are common at every stage, from prescription and administration of a medication to monitoring of the patient’s response. It estimated that on average, there is at least one medication error per hospital patient per day, although error rates vary widely across facilities.

If you or a loved one has suffered from side effects caused by a medication or pharmacy error please call us or fill out our online contact form. A Minnesota pharmacy error attorney at Fields Law Firm will explain your legal options and how we may be able to help.