Medication errors can cause serious, life-altering harm, and patients often suffer the consequences without understanding how or why the mistake occurred. If a medication error happened in Charleston, West Virginia, a Charleston medical malpractice attorney can help determine whether medical negligence played a role and what options are available to pursue compensation.
What Is a Medication Error?
A medication error occurs when a patient receives the wrong drug, the wrong dose, the wrong instructions, or a medication that should never have been prescribed based on their medical history. These errors can happen at any stage of care, including prescribing, dispensing, administering, or monitoring medications. Common medication errors include:
- Incorrect dosages
- Prescribing drugs that interact dangerously with other medications
- Dispensing the wrong medication at a pharmacy
- Failing to adjust doses for children or elderly patients
- Improper administration in hospitals or nursing facilities.
Where Medication Errors Commonly Occur
Medication errors happen across many healthcare settings in Charleston and throughout West Virginia. Hospitals may administer incorrect medications during inpatient care. Pharmacies may fill prescriptions incorrectly or mislabel instructions. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities may give residents the wrong drugs or fail to monitor side effects. Outpatient clinics and emergency rooms may prescribe medications without reviewing allergies or prior conditions.
Because multiple providers often participate in a patient’s care, identifying where the error occurred is a critical part of evaluating a claim.
Common Injuries Caused by Medication Errors
Medication errors can cause a wide range of injuries, from temporary illness to permanent disability or death. Patients may experience:
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Cardiac events
- Seizures
- Allergic reactions
- Infections
- Dangerous overdoses
In some cases, the error worsens the underlying condition or delays proper treatment, leading to long-term complications. Children, elderly patients, and individuals with complex medical conditions face especially high risks from medication mistakes.
Proving a Medication Error Claim in West Virginia
Medication error cases fall under medical malpractice law, which means the claim must show that a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that this failure caused harm. A Charleston medication error attorney helps establish this by gathering expert opinions, documenting injuries, and linking the error directly to the patient’s damages.
These cases often involve strong defenses from hospitals, insurers, and healthcare providers. Medical records may be incomplete, altered, or difficult to interpret without professional analysis. Legal guidance is essential to building a credible and well-supported claim.
Compensation in Medication Error Cases
Patients harmed by medication errors may seek compensation for medical expenses, additional treatment costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs. In severe cases, families may also pursue claims related to permanent disability or loss of life. Properly valuing a medication error claim requires understanding both the immediate harm and the long-term medical and financial impact of the mistake.
Why Hiring a Charleston Medication Errors Attorney Is Critical
Medication error cases are medically and legally complex. Healthcare providers and insurance companies often deny mistakes or argue that the injury resulted from an underlying condition rather than an error. Without legal representation, patients may struggle to uncover the truth or challenge these defenses.
A Charleston, WV personal injury lawyer manages the investigation, works with qualified medical experts, handles communications with insurers, and prepares the case for settlement or litigation. Legal representation allows injured patients and families to focus on recovery while all legal aspects are handled
Contact Us
If you were harmed by a medication error in Charleston, contact Tiano O’Dell, PLLC to discuss your legal options. Call (304) 720-6700 or message us online to schedule a free consultation.
