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Prescription medications are meant to help people heal, but when errors occur, they can lead to serious and even life-threatening consequences. Each year, millions of Americans are harmed because a medication was prescribed, filled, or administered incorrectly.
In many of these cases, the mistake could have been prevented. These are not rare accidents. They are systemic failures, and victims have the right to hold negligent providers accountable.
Just How Common Are Prescription Errors?
Medication errors happen more frequently than most people realize. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it receives over 100,000 reports of suspected medication errors each year. The Institute of Medicine has estimated that over 1.5 million people are harmed annually due to medication-related mistakes in the U.S.
These errors can take many forms:
- Giving the wrong medication to a patient
- Incorrect dosages—too much or too little
- Mixing up medications with similar names
- Overlooking a known allergy
- Failing to warn of dangerous drug interactions
These mistakes can cause everything from temporary illness to long-term organ damage, and in some cases, wrongful death.
For example, a simple handwritten prescription for “Zantac” misread as “Zyrtec” could cause a severe allergic reaction. In high-pressure settings like hospitals or busy retail pharmacies, these lapses happen more often than most would expect.
Where and Why These Errors Happen
Prescription errors can occur at several points in the medication process. Unfortunately, each step involves multiple parties—physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and technicians—and breakdowns in communication or oversight are common.
- Hospitals: Fast-paced environments with multiple shifts increase the risk of dosage mistakes and administration errors.
- Pharmacies: High-volume chains often push employees to fill scripts quickly, leaving room for wrong labels or incorrect instructions.
- Doctor’s Offices: A failure to double-check a patient’s history or allergies can lead to catastrophic consequences.
- Nursing Homes: Older adults are especially vulnerable, and overworked staff may administer incorrect medications or mix up residents’ prescriptions.
Across New Jersey, from small towns in Sussex County to major hospitals in Essex County, patients rely on providers to take care with every prescription. But when carelessness takes the place of caution, the consequences can be severe.
What Victims Can Do: Legal Options After a Prescription Error
If you or a loved one has been harmed due to a medication mistake, you may be entitled to compensation. Prescription errors fall under medical malpractice law, which holds healthcare providers accountable when their negligence causes injury.
Compensation may include:
- Hospital and medical bills
- Future care or rehabilitation
- Lost income or diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- In fatal cases, wrongful death damages are awarded to surviving family members
To succeed in a claim, your attorney must show that the healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care and that the error directly caused harm.
It’s essential to act quickly. In New Jersey, most medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years of discovering the injury. Waiting too long could mean losing your right to sue, even in serious cases.
How Nagel Rice Helps Victims of Medication Mistakes
At Nagel Rice, we take prescription error cases seriously because we know how devastating the consequences can be. Our legal team works with medical experts, pharmacists, and specialists to understand exactly what went wrong, when it happened, and who should be held accountable.
We assist clients by:
- Reviewing complex medical and pharmacy records
- Investigating provider policies and prior violations
- Identifying breaches in accepted standards of care
- Negotiating with hospitals, insurers, and healthcare systems
- Litigating in court when a fair settlement isn’t offered
With over $1 billion recovered for victims of negligence, we have a proven record of success in medical malpractice cases across New Jersey, including those involving hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
You Deserve Answers After a Medication Error
Prescription errors are more than just a medical mistake—they’re a breach of trust. If a healthcare provider failed to protect your safety by prescribing or administering the wrong medication, you have every right to seek justice.
Contact Nagel Rice LLP for a free consultation. We’ll evaluate your case, answer your questions, and help you take the next step toward accountability and recovery.