The wrong dosage of drug was administered to me in the hospital via IV. Do I have a claim for my additional medical bills and extra time in the hospital?

You most likely should have a claim for damages. Nurses or other medical professionals are supposed to follow the rules and procedures put in place when administering a drug using an intravenous (IV) medication system. When they fail to follow protocol and cut corners, they can injure patients.

Unfortunately, the rate of IV medication errors has risen substantially across the nation. According to the Institute for Medicine, there are about 7,000 deaths that result from IV medication mistakes as well as millions of people suffering sicknesses annually. Sometimes this occurs due to medication contamination, and other times it happens as a result of nurse fatigue or failure to follow procedures.

When medication mistakes are made in hospitals by trained professionals, patients should be compensated for the side effects and pain and suffering they endured. Sadly, IV medication errors are preventable mistakes that should never occur in the first place.

If you were harmed as a result of an IV medication, requiring a longer hospital stay and other treatments that increased your hospital bill, you should be compensated for those financial damages as well as for your emotional trauma and pain and suffering.

You went to the hospital for help and not to be harmed, which is why you probably have a claim against the nurse, doctor, or hospital involved. To learn more about your rights to a claim for damages, order a free copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.