Albuquerque Medication Errors Lawyer

Albuquerque Medication Errors Attorney

When a health care provider – such as a nurse, pharmacist, doctor – or medical facility fails to adequately administer, prescribe, or dispense medication, this is a medication error. Medication errors can lead to devastating consequences for patients and their families, ranging from worsening medical conditions to severe injuries and sometimes even death. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a medication error, an Albuquerque medication errors lawyer can help.

At Sutten Law Group, our dedicated personal injury team has decades of combined experience successfully fighting for patients who have been injured in Albuquerque and surrounding areas. We understand the disastrous consequences that a medication error can cause and are therefore here to help you bring justice to your case. We are eager to meet with you, understand your case details, and help you seek legal action against responsible parties to get compensation.

Understanding Common Types of Medication Errors

Medication errors can occur at many different levels in the Albuquerque medical system, ranging across a wide variety of facilities and involving different administrators. Common medication errors handled at our law firm include:

• Prescription errors. When a physician fails to check for allergies, misdiagnoses a condition, or issues faulty dosage instructions, this leads to incorrect medications being prescribed.
• Pharmacy errors. Medication errors that happen in the pharmacy can involve dispensing drugs with wrong dosages, mislabeling packaging, and incorrectly filling prescriptions.
• Administration errors. Nursing or hospital healthcare staff may skip doses, administer incorrect doses, or deliver drugs using improper methods.
• Failure to monitor. When healthcare providers do not adequately follow up with their patients to ensure their safety, especially for higher-risk medications, patients can face significant harm.
• Drug interactions. Healthcare providers have a responsibility to check whether a patient is using existing medications to determine whether there could be a potentially dangerous interaction.

These are just a few of the many types of cases we can handle. No matter what your circumstances are, contact us and let us help you evaluate your options.

New Mexico’s Laws Governing Medication Safety

NMAC § 16.19.11.8 outlines the specific laws that govern pharmaceutical services and the distribution of medication in the state. Specifically, the law states:

• Any drugs that are administered to a patient must be issued by a licensed practitioner or physician.
• Facilities are required to keep detailed records of the receipt, use, and disposal of prescription medications, as well as thoroughly document any medication errors.
• Registered pharmacists are required to oversee the distribution of medication, making sure procedures and policies are complied with to avoid any errors.
• Medical facilities are required to report and document any medication errors under their policy guidelines to ensure accountability.

Furthermore, NMAC § 16.12.5.10 ensures the safe administration of drugs by trained personnel through adequate certification, training, supervision, and disciplinary standards for medication aides in the state. If a healthcare facility, pharmacist, or medical provider does not adhere to these rules and regulations, they could be held liable for any patient harm caused as a result.

Legal Liability for Medication Errors

Albuquerque has an estimated population of over 560,000, with the New Mexico Department of Public Health reporting that people in the state using more substances tend to report higher rates of frequent mental distress. These distress levels are nearly tripled from 0 substances, or about 12%, to 3 substances, or about 35 %.

In healthcare settings, medication errors can result in severe medical and legal consequences, especially if patients already have a vulnerability to a substance abuse disorder or mental health condition. Medication errors can happen at different stages, including during prescribing, dispensing, administering, or monitoring.

Potentially liable parties include pharmacists, pharmacies, physicians, nursing homes, and hospitals. Victims of medication errors may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and wrongful death.

How a Medication Errors Lawyer Can Help

If you or your loved one has fallen victim to a prescription error in the Albuquerque area, a dedicated medical malpractice attorney from our firm can launch an in-depth investigation into your case, determining what caused the mistake. We can gather crucial evidence, such as testimony from medical experts and medical records, to prove negligence.

Depending on your case details, we can help you understand who might be liable, including pharmacists, medical institutions, and healthcare providers. On your behalf, we can fiercely negotiate with insurance companies to get an optimal settlement or, if necessary, take your court to trial.

If your case does proceed to court, it may likely be heard in the Second Judicial District Court of New Mexico, which handles civil lawsuits in Albuquerque. We can help you navigate the local civil legal system to get the justice and compensation you deserve.

FAQs:

Albuquerque Medication Errors Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been harmed because of a prescription error, it’s crucial to act right away. An experienced Albuquerque medication error lawyer from Sutten Law Group is eager to help. Contact us today to learn more.