Medical malpractice takes many forms, and patients admitted to hospitals might worry about whether they’ll receive appropriate treatment. Georgia patients may receive a prescription medication to address a particular ailment. Such prescriptions could include antibiotics and painkillers, among others. Receiving the wrong prescription might lead to health complications and medical malpractice claims.
Prescription errors and malpractice
Giving a patient the wrong prescription ranks as an error that sometimes happens. The person could receive an inappropriate prescription because the doctor made an error or did not thoroughly review the patient’s medical history. Or, a nurse may grab the wrong prescription, or the medicine might be mislabeled. Ultimately, no matter the reason, someone did not receive the proper medication, which might lead to further problems.
Upon taking the wrong prescription, a patient could suffer an adverse reaction. Some patients might be allergic to the medication, and the response might be life-threatening. Even the appropriate medication could be dangerous when the patient takes too much. Overprescribing milligrams is a potentially unsafe error.
Similarly, a patient could develop addiction issues when taking a particular drug for too long or ingesting too much. News reports reveal many doctors found themselves in legal trouble for overprescribing drugs, sometimes unnecessarily.
The legal consequences of medical malpractice
Medical malpractice could result in doctors, other healthcare providers, and hospitals facing negligence claims. A civil lawsuit may seek compensatory and punitive damages for any harm suffered. The lawsuit might become vital for a victim’s ability to pay for unexpected costs and losses after the malpractice incident.
If a patient dies, eligible family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit could seek damages for future financial losses and pain and suffering.
Often, medical malpractice insurance covers negligence. An insurance settlement may provide the financial compensation the litigants seek.