Pharmacist Malpractice

People who are prescribed medication by their physicians will generally visit pharmacies to have their prescriptions filled. Pharmacists, like all healthcare providers, are expected to competently perform their professional duties. Unfortunately, though, it is not uncommon for pharmacists to make careless mistakes that ultimately cause patients to suffer significant losses and may be grounds for filing a pharmacist malpractice lawsuit. If you were harmed by the negligence of a pharmacist, it is smart to confer with an attorney to evaluate what claims you may be able to pursue. The trusted Prince George’s County medical malpractice attorneys of Foran & Foran, P.A., have ample experience addressing the challenges of claims against reckless pharmacists, and if you hire us, we can evaluate the circumstances surrounding your harm and aid you in seeking any damages you may be owed.

Pharmacist malpractice can manifest in several ways, and when it does arise, it frequently causes serious harm to patients. Some of the most common examples include dispensing the wrong medication to a patient, providing incorrect dosages, and failing to recognize dangerous drug interactions. Such errors can result in severe allergic reactions, overdoses, or ineffective treatment of medical conditions.

Additionally, mistakes in labeling or providing inadequate instructions on how to take the medication can lead to improper usage, exacerbating health issues. In some cases, failure to counsel patients about potential side effects or contraindications can result in unexpected adverse reactions or complications.

People harmed by pharmacy malpractice often face substantial medical bills and a long recovery process. As a result, many seek damages from those responsible through a pharmacy malpractice lawsuit. In doing so, they will typically assert a theory of negligence.

Under Maryland law, proving a pharmacist’s negligence requires the plaintiff to establish the applicable standard of care, which is the care that a reasonable pharmacist would exercise in a similar situation. The plaintiff must then demonstrate that the defendant pharmacist had a duty to meet this standard and breached it through their actions or omissions. For example, if the standard requires a pharmacist to review a patient's medical history for allergies and the defendant failed to do so, this failure can be argued as a breach of the standard. Finally, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s breach caused the plaintiff to suffer actual harm.

As people typically do not possess an independent understanding of what the standard of care imposed on pharmacists requires, in most cases, a plaintiff will need to retain an expert to explain the standard of care and opine as to the ways in which the defendant deviated from the standard.

Parties who prove harm from pharmacy malpractice may recover expenses for medical treatments needed due to their injuries, including hospitalization, prescriptions, and physical or occupational therapy. They might also receive compensation for lost wages or future earnings if their ability to work was impaired. Additionally, they can often recover damages for pain, suffering, and mental trauma caused by their injuries.

Pharmacists play a critical role in ensuring patient safety, and when they make mistakes, it often leads to significant harm. If you or a loved one sustained injuries that were caused by pharmacist malpractice, it is advisable to meet with an attorney to determine your options for seeking justice. The capable Prince George’s County medical malpractice attorneys of Foran & Foran, P.A., routinely advocate for people hurt by the carelessness of their healthcare providers, and if you engage our services, we will gather the evidence needed to provide you with a strong chance of obtaining a good outcome. We have an office in Greenbelt, Maryland, and we frequently represent people in medical malpractice lawsuits who live in Hyattsville, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Waldorf, La Plata, Silver Spring, Rockville, and other cities in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Charles County and all counties in the State of Maryland. You can set up a confidential and free conference by contacting us through our form online or by calling us at (301) 441-2022.