Pharmacy Negligence: When a Medication Error Becomes an Injury

When you take a medication prescribed by your doctor, you shouldn’t have to worry about it sending you to the emergency room. Tragically, medication errors remain one of the most common medical mistakes in the United States. A major report from the Institute of Medicine found that medication errors harm at least 1.5 million people every year. These mistakes can happen at any step of the process, including when medications are dispensed at the pharmacy.

The pharmacy error lawyers at Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell know that one wrong pill, one wrong dose, or one missing warning can change your life in an instant. When a pharmacy mistake causes real harm, we are here to investigate the root cause, identify the liable party, and help you pursue the compensation you will need to make the fullest recovery possible.

Talk to a Pharmacy Error Lawyer for Free

To schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of the medication error attorneys at Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, call (401) 273-8330 today. Based in Providence, we assist people hurt through pharmacy negligence in Pawtucket, Cranston, Warwick, and throughout Rhode Island.

What Is Pharmacy Negligence?

Pharmacy errors happen when a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, pharmacy assistant, intern, or other pharmacy employee fails to meet the accepted standard of care and ends up harming a patient. It can take many forms, but some of the most common include:

• Dispensing the wrong medication
• Dispensing the right medication in the wrong dose
• Giving unclear, incorrect, or incomplete instructions
• Missing red flags like drug interactions or potential allergens
• Labeling errors that create dangerous confusion

Pharmacists in Rhode Island are required by state law to address issues like drug interactions and incorrect dosage or duration as soon as they become known. They are also required to notify patients immediately when a dispensing error has occurred and to follow up with documentation and an analysis of adverse effects that may be related to the error. However, while regulations can help to reduce patient harm, they can’t eliminate it. When a pharmacist or another pharmacy employee is the source of an error, and that error causes injury or death, they can be held liable for the related medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering that follow.

The pharmacy error lawyers at Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell have an extensive knowledge of medicine and a long history of handling complex medical malpractice claims. With internal specialists and access to external experts in a variety of medical fields, we can perform a thorough review of your records to determine how an error happened and who can be held responsible for the harm it has caused.

What Injuries Are Linked to Pharmacy Errors?

A pharmacy mistake can trigger anything from a temporary setback to a catastrophic injury. Some people recover quickly. Others face months or years of medical care, lost income, and complications.

Some of the most common injuries and adverse outcomes related to pharmacy negligence include:

• Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
• Overdose or toxicity
• Underdose and treatment failure
• Internal bleeding
• Cardiac events
• Seizures
• Falls and fainting
• Worsening of chronic conditions

Secondary injuries, such as head injuries and fractures from falls, are also a risk when medications are prescribed, labeled, compounded, dispensed, administered, or monitored incorrectly.

If you suspect a pharmacy error harmed you or someone you love, seeking medical attention is the first step. The next step is to talk with an experienced pharmacy error lawyer who can help determine whether the harm traces back to a preventable error and whether that error gives you cause to file a lawsuit.

As with all medical professionals, pharmacists have insurers and legal teams ready to defend them against negligence claims. Having an attorney on your side helps to ensure you are not taken advantage of or coerced into accepting less than your injury truly demands.

What Does a Pharmacy Error Lawyer Do?

While each claim is unique, common steps taken by pharmacy error lawyers include:

• Identifying what went wrong and when. This may include gathering evidence such as:
  • Prescription records
  • Medical records
  • Communications between providers

These records can help to answer questions like, Was the prescription correct? Was it filled correctly? Were warnings missing? Were you counseled appropriately?

• Working with medical experts to evaluate levels of negligence. In many pharmacy negligence cases, expert review can help evaluate records and explain how and why the standard of care was violated. When needed, these experts can also provide testimony.
• Preserving and pursuing evidence. Important evidence can include more than the label on the bottle. Pharmacy negligence cases may require digging into:
  • Internal policies and training
  • Dispensing systems and workflows
  • Witness statements
  • Video evidence

This matters because pharmacy errors are not always a single-person mistake. Sometimes the root problem is poor training, improper supervision, or systemic issues that make errors more likely.

• Determining who can be held accountable. Depending on the facts of the case, liability may extend to:
  • The individual pharmacist
  • The pharmacy company
  • Other parties involved in the medication chain

Each party needs to be identified for maximum compensation to be sought.

• Calculating the full impact of harm. A pharmacy error lawsuit is not just about the immediate medical bills. Your pharmacy error lawyer will look at the full picture, including ongoing treatment, lost earning capacity, long-term limitations, and the human cost of what you have been forced to endure.
• Helping you file additional complaints. Your attorney can assist you in filing a complaint with the Rhode Island Department of Health for licensee violations. This can be an important step for public safety.

Your pharmacy error lawyer will also work to protect you against unfair settlement offers, negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf, and take your case to trial if negotiations fail.

While most cases settle before a trial is necessary, choosing an attorney with a proven record in the courtroom helps to ensure you are covered no matter what direction your case takes. The award-winning trial lawyers at Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell have successfully tried multiple cases in front of judges and juries, and prepare every case for such an eventuality.

Providence Pharmacy Error Lawyers You Can Count On

Medication error cases demand legal experience and genuine medical understanding. They also demand a firm that does not blink when the other side tries to minimize what happened. Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell has served clients in catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims for decades. We do not back down to powerful interests, and are proud to help everyday people seek and obtain the justice they deserve.

When you select a pharmacy negligence attorney from our firm, you can expect:

• Comprehensive investigations, aided by internal and external specialists
• Proven results, including landmark decisions that have helped to shape public policy
• Extensive experience with medical malpractice and medication error claims
• Partner involvement in every case and unrestricted access to your attorney
• True respect, honest care, and a relentless commitment to helping you recover the fair compensation you deserve

Schedule a Free Case Review With an Experienced Pharmacy Error Lawyer

If you believe a pharmacy error caused you harm, Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell is here to help. Use our online contact form or call our Providence office to schedule a cost- and obligation-free consultation with one of our experienced pharmacy error lawyers today. We serve victims of medical negligence and medication error throughout Rhode Island and can travel to your location to listen to your story if your injury makes travel difficult.