Drug Interactions and Pharmaceutical Errors
Pharmacists have a more complex job than many people realize. They are not just there to read prescriptions and fill bottles with the correct pills. They also need to be fully knowledgeable about the uses, side effects, and interactions of each medication they disperse. One of their most important tasks is to keep track of other medications patients are taking to avoid dangerous interactions.
Unexpected interactions between drugs can cause painful and sometimes tragic complications. In the worst scenarios, they can even be fatal. If you have lost a loved one following a pharmaceutical error, we can help. Call the Pennsylvania wrongful death lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 610-667-7511.
Fatal Drug Interactions: A Widespread Problem
It is very important for patients to be upfront with doctors and pharmacists about other medications they are taking, even non-prescription medicine or vitamins. This is because the drugs people ingest can interact with each other and with chemicals in the body to produce unpredictable and unwanted effects.
Unfortunately, drug interactions – which fall under the umbrella term “adverse drug reactions” in medical literature – are a common health problem. Every year adverse drug reactions cause about 100,000 deaths in the US, according to some estimates. This problem has been linked to inadequate drug testing, overworked medical employees, and the sheer number of prescriptions written every year – about 10 for every person in the US.
Preventing Interactions
To prevent these dangerous interactions, it is very important for doctors and pharmacists to:
- Ask patients about the medications they take
- Keep accurate files about each patient
- Stay up-to-date on medical knowledge
- Inform patients about side effects and interactions
If a member of your family has suffered fatal health complications because a pharmacist failed to take these steps, our Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys can help.
Contact Us
Negligent pharmacists can be held responsible for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other problems they cause for their victims. To learn more, contact the Pennsylvania pharmacy error wrongful death lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 610-667-7511.