Litchfield Medication Error Lawyer

Errors in prescribing, dispensing, and administering medication are the most common and preventable source of patient harm. Mistakes can be made at any stage of the treatment process, and there are typically multiple stages and people involved in providing medicine to patients. When medication errors occur, the consequences can be deadly.

If you have suffered loss or injury as a result of a medication error, contact a Litchfield medication error lawyer at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys have over a century of combined experience fighting for clients’ rights to fair and just compensation.

Who Is Responsible for Medication Errors?

Because mistakes can occur in any of the multiple steps involved in prescribing and providing medication to patients, there are numerous healthcare providers who may be responsible for an error. Almost half of medication errors happen during the prescription or ordering stages, and nurses and pharmacists identify a significant percentage of errors before they can harm the patient.

If you were given the wrong medication or harmed by any type of medication mistake, the healthcare professional responsible might be a:

• Doctor
• Nurse
• Pharmacist
• Pharmacy technician

Hospitals, nursing facilities, and pharmacies may also be responsible for medication errors. The Litchfield medication error attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, will help you identify the at-fault party so they can be held liable for the harm they’ve caused.

How do Medication Errors Occur in Litchfield, CT?

Mistakes often occur when prescribing, ordering, and administering medicines. Specifically, this can look like one of the following scenarios:

• The doctor failed to review a patient’s current medications and prescribed a medicine that caused negative interactions.
• The doctor’s handwriting was illegible, and the pharmacist filled the wrong medication or dosage.
• The orders said to provide the medication intravenously, but the nurse provided it orally by mistake.
• The doctor did not consider a patient’s pre-existing conditions and prescribed a medication that is contraindicated.
• The nurse administered too high or too low of a dose.
• The pharmacy technician put the incorrect pills in the prescription bottle.
• The doctor forgot to put the order in for the prescription, and the patient did not receive the necessary medication.
• The patient was given a medication that they are allergic to despite it being listed in their chart as an allergy.

Connecticut Guidelines for Administering Medication

There are extensive federal and state laws concerning medical care, and in Connecticut, the following requirements regarding how medication is to be administered are dictated by state law.

• Licensed professionals must administer medication in a residential facility with 16 or more residents, although facilities may obtain waivers to allow unlicensed staff to perform this task.
• All prescription medications must be administered according to the doctor’s written orders.
• A doctor may order that medication be administered by licensed professionals if they feel the training of unlicensed staff is inadequate.
• If a doctor determines that an unlicensed staff member cannot administer medication safely, they must include this in a written order on a patient-by-patient basis and include an explanation.

Medication Error Attorneys With Extensive Experience in Litchfield, CT

The lawyers at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, provide personalized legal strategies tailored to your unique needs. Our approach combines aggressive representation and compassionate support to give each client the best chance at a favorable outcome. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Litchfield medication error lawyer.