Medication Negligence and How to Claim Compensation
The consequences of the incorrect prescription or administration of medication can be devastating and may justify a claim for compensation.
Medication negligence
The use of medication is inevitably widespread across the NHS and many patients are dependent on effective and appropriate medication to maintain their health and quality of life.
Some medications are powerful in their effect and have the capacity not only to improve an individual's quality of life but, if used incorrectly, to devastate that life. Examples of where it can go wrong include the following:
- Prescribing incorrect or inappropriate medication
- Prescribing an inappropriate dose of the correct medication
- Misadministration of medication, such as using the wrong dosage or administering medication too frequently or infrequently
- Failing to monitor the impact of medication, allowing the patient to suffer a negative impact
The consequences of medication negligence
The consequences of medication negligence can be wide-ranging. In many cases, the impact may be minimal, causing the patient little if any harm.
In some circumstances, however, the impact can be life-changing or even life-threatening.
One example would be the use of a drug to which the patient is allergic, causing unnecessary damage and long-term symptoms.
Another example would be prescribing an incorrect dosage of the antibiotic Gentamicin, where excess usage can cause kidney failure or hearing and balance issues. Both outcomes can be life-changing, causing the patient to suffer financial losses, such as loss of income or the costs of care, which would not have been the case had the negligence not occurred.
Making a claim for compensation
For a compensation claim to be successful, it is necessary to demonstrate both that an act of negligence has occurred and that it has caused the patient to suffer an adverse outcome which would not have occurred with an appropriate and acceptable level of care.
If you think that you or a loved one may have been the victim of negligent care, you will need a specialist solicitor to investigate the quality of your care. In the first instance, they will obtain your medical records and investigate whether an act of negligence occurred. If it appears to be the case, they will then assess its impact, if any, on your life and assess the potential value of your claim.
Speak to a specialist
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of expert and experienced lawyers.
Contact us today to speak with a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim for medical negligence.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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