Medication mistakes are one of the most preventable yet dangerous failures in modern health care. According to the CDC, more than 1.5 million emergency visits each year are linked to adverse drug events, and nearly half require hospitalization. These errors can happen at any stage of the medication-use process, from ordering to monitoring.
The law allows you to seek justice when a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, anesthesia provider, or hospital fails to meet the accepted standard of care and that breach results in harm. The Cochran Firm DC represents clients in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia in medication error claims.
Even when medication errors are not fatal, they can result in serious, life-altering injuries. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and anesthesiologists all have a responsibility to properly administer medications. The medication error lawyers
The Cochran Firm DC has the talent necessary to handle your medical error claim in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
A medication error is any preventable event that leads to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. Common examples include:
High-alert medications such as anticoagulants, insulin, and certain antibiotics require heightened safeguards due to their risk of severe injury.
Some medication errors result in only minor discomfort. More often, however, medication errors result in devastating health consequences, including:
In serious cases, medication errors can even result in a coma, forcing you to receive costly medical services that should have been avoided.
When you are injured through the negligence of a healthcare provider, you may be able to seek compensation for all related medical expenses, all current and projected future lost wages, as well as physical and emotional pain and suffering.
A medication error lawsuit may name one or more of the following:
Under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability, health care facilities can be held responsible for the acts of their employees performed within the scope of their duties.
If you believe you’ve been harmed by a prescription or medication mistake, acting quickly can protect both your health and your legal rights. Here’s the step-by-step process our medication error attorneys recommend and why each step matters:
Your first priority should always be your health. If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. Bring the medication, its packaging, and any instructions with you so medical providers know exactly what you took and can respond appropriately.
Keep the prescription bottle, box, instructions, receipts, and any pharmacy paperwork. Do not return the medication to the pharmacy, even if they ask for it back. Store everything in a safe place, as these items can be critical in proving what you were given and when.
Obtain complete copies of your records as soon as possible, including the hospital’s medication administration record (MAR or eMAR) and the pharmacy’s patient profile and dispensing logs. Requesting them early reduces the risk of alterations or “corrections” that could weaken your case.
Write down the details of what happened while they are still fresh in your mind. Include when and how you took the medication, what symptoms you experienced, when those symptoms began, and any conversations you had with healthcare providers. If your symptoms are visible, photos or videos can serve as valuable supporting evidence.
If someone was with you when the medication was dispensed or when you took it, make sure to get their contact information. Their observations can help establish a timeline and confirm details in your account.
Do not give recorded statements, sign any documents, or agree to interviews with hospital administrators or insurance representatives before consulting an attorney. Their goal is to limit liability, and anything you say could be used against you later.
In Washington, DC, you may have only 90 days to give formal notice before filing a lawsuit. Reaching out to a qualified medication error attorney ensures your case is investigated, evidence is preserved, and deadlines are met.
A medication error is any preventable mistake in the prescribing, dispensing, administering, or monitoring of medication that causes patient harm. This can include giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, administering it by the wrong route, or failing to identify a harmful interaction or allergy.
Yes. Pharmacy errors are considered professional negligence. If the mistake caused you harm, you may be entitled to compensation. In DC, Maryland, and Virginia, these claims are often handled under medical malpractice laws, which means specific filing procedures apply.
In Washington, DC, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, which includes claims involving medication errors (D.C. Code § 12-301). This is known as the statute of limitations and once it expires, you usually lose the right to sue. However, DC also has an additional procedural rule that can shorten your effective timeline: you must serve the healthcare provider with a written 90-day notice of intent to sue before filing your case (D.C. Code § 16-2802). This notice must include a summary of your claim and the injuries you suffered, and it must be delivered before the lawsuit is filed in court. If you wait until the last few months of the limitations period to contact an attorney, this notice requirement could put your claim at risk.
You may recover for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and funeral costs in wrongful death cases.
We review medical and pharmacy records, receive audit logs, and consult with medical experts to confirm a breach of care. We then link that breach directly to the injury using medical evidence and witness accounts.
The medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm DC know exactly what to look for in medication error claims. Relying on the expertise of a national network of top medical professionals in a variety of disciplines, we are able to exhaustingly examine your medical records to find signs of neglect. With so many reasons a medication error can occur, it is vital that you choose an attorney who has at his disposal such an esteemed panel of medical experts.
Our DC medication lawyers are entirely devoted to every client we represent. Working closely with your family, we will strive to understand all of the ways your injury has impacted your life. With this information, we will fight tirelessly to secure for you a settlement or verdict that includes all of your damages.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a medication error in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia, please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm DC to schedule a consultation.
