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What Is a Prescription Error?
A prescription error occurs when medication is prescribed incorrectly or important information is overlooked when deciding what treatment a patient should receive.
This could involve the wrong medicine, an incorrect dosage, an unsuitable combination of medicines, or a failure to consider relevant information about a patient's medical history or existing treatment.
A prescribing mistake does not automatically amount to medical negligence. It is necessary to establish whether the appropriate standard of care was followed and whether the error caused or contributed to an injury.
Can I Claim for a Prescription Error?
You may be able to make a claim if a prescribing error caused an injury, worsened an existing condition or resulted in avoidable complications.
The consequences can vary depending on the medication involved and the circumstances. You may require additional treatment, experience side effects or suffer a deterioration in your condition.
Where a prescription error results in the wrong medication being supplied, the circumstances may also overlap with Wrong Medication Claims. If an error occurs when a prescription is prepared or supplied by a pharmacy, Dispensing Error Claims may also be relevant.
In some cases, an incorrect prescription may be connected to a failure to properly assess a patient's symptoms or condition. Where this results in a significant delay in identifying an illness, Delayed Diagnosis Claims may also need to be considered.
What Compensation Can I Claim?
Compensation can take into account the injury and suffering caused by the prescription error, together with financial losses resulting from the mistake.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include additional treatment costs, rehabilitation, loss of earnings, care requirements and other reasonable expenses.
Where the error has caused a serious or long-term deterioration in your health, the wider impact on your everyday life and future needs may also be taken into account.
How Can Step Legal Solicitors Help?
Step Legal Solicitors can investigate how the prescription error occurred and review relevant medical and prescription records.
Where the prescribing decision was made by a GP, the circumstances may also be considered in relation to GP Negligence Claims. If the error occurred within a hospital or involved a failure to provide appropriate medication and treatment, Hospital Negligence Claims may also be relevant.
Where necessary, independent medical evidence can help establish whether the prescription was inappropriate and whether the error caused or contributed to your injury.
We can also assess the wider financial and personal impact of the harm you have suffered.
If you decide to instruct us, your matter will be handled on a No Win No Fee basis. This means no upfront costs and no financial risks to yourself. The Conditional Fee Agreement means that finances are not an obstacle to achieving justice.
Contact Step Legal Solicitors
If you believe that a prescription error has caused you or someone close to you avoidable harm, contact Step Legal Solicitors on 0800 195 6412 or get in touch through our online contact form to discuss your potential claim.
You are always welcome to come into our offices at any time during our working hours for a free consultation, no strings attached.
Even if you’re not sure whether you have a good claim, it’s always worth getting in touch with a solicitor. There’s nothing much to lose.
