Is the pharmacist directly responsible for my medication mistake?
A: Many chain pharmacies will have only one pharmacist on staff. While prescription errors along the chain of command may ultimately fall on the pharmacist, there are many ways the pharmacist himself can be directly accountable for your pharmaceutical injury.
If your pharmacist failed to do any of the following, he may be guilt of malpractice:
Catch a transcription error
Check the tech’s instructions against the prescribing physician’s drug order
Confirm the identity of the patient via name, birth date and address
Confirm the drug with the patient’s condition
Check for possible drug interactions or allergies
Check that the correct medication has been filled
Confirm that the correct route (tablet or liquid) in the correct strength has been filled
Inform the patient that a mistake has been made in a timely manner
Improve or correct a possible opportunity for medication error or patient injury
Even though there are many safeguards in place to protect against potential errors, many patients will trust their pharmacist without questioning his methods. If you have any concerns about your medication or your pharmacy, you are perfectly within your right to ask questions. Additionally, if you have been injured, you have a right to compensation.
For a free consultation with an experienced pharmacy malpractice lawyer, call Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616. You can also order our FREE injury guide, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for your Injuries Caused by Medication Errors, by clicking the link at the top of the page.
