Newsletters

Failure to Properly Interpret a Physician's Medication Order

When you are being treated in a hospital or in any other healthcare organization, you have the right to expect that you will be given the correct medication in the proper dose at the proper time. However, the number of medication errors is increasing in recent years, and the problem has become a major health care concern. Even though the prescription and administrative of medication is a routine part of medical, nursing, and pharmaceutical practice, deviations from proper practice have the potential to severely injury or even kill an unwary patient.

Malpractice by Pharmacists

New drugs are rapidly being developed and marketed, and more prescriptions are being written than ever before. The population as a whole is aging, and elderly patients account for about one-third of all drugs consumed. The practice of pharmacy itself has radically changed over the last decade. Whereas most pharmacies used to be part of family owed drug stores, they are now frequently owned and operated by national corporations and supermarket chains to allow the consumer to pick up his or her medicine at the same time as groceries and other supplies. The convenience of these superstores can be overshadowed by reckless mistakes made when pharmacists are required to fill a high number of prescriptions. Pharmacy experts conclude that a large part of the problem is a shortage of pharmacists.

Patient Compensation Funds

In response to the increased cost and reduced availability of medical malpractice insurance, about one-third of the states have created Patient Compensation Funds (PCF), which are malpractice liability funding mechanisms. Under PCF statutes, the liability of healthcare providers and institutions is limited to a specified amount, and the state establishes funds to compensate success malpractice plaintiffs for damages in excess of that specified amount. The provider or institution buys basic malpractice limits of coverage from a private insurer and further coverage through the PCF.

Medical Malpractice Screening Panels

Medical Malpractice Screening Panels

Loss of Chance Doctrine

Loss of Chance Doctrine