Kentucky Pharmacy Malpractice Attorneys
Louisville and Lexington lawyers advocating for those injured by prescription drugs
Pharmaceuticals are crucial for many people’s health; we rely on them to treat certain conditions, control pain, and prevent diseases and viruses from taking hold in the body. Prescription drugs are powerful weapons against serious health problems and save countless lives every year. However, because these medications are so powerful, when pharmaceutical companies or pharmacists make mistakes, the consequences can be catastrophic.
Drug manufacturers have a duty to put safe and effective products on the market. Physicians have a duty to prescribe the correct drugs to patients, and pharmacists have a duty to fill these prescriptions in a proper manner. When any of these parties fail in that duty, patients can suffer serious injury. When this happens to you or a member of your family, the Kentucky pharmacy malpractice attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers are here to step in and help. We work to hold the right parties responsible and seek maximum compensation on your behalf. Contact us in Lexington or Louisville today.
How can we help today?
- What is pharmacy malpractice?
- Why does Kentucky pharmacy malpractice happen?
- What are the different types of pharmacy errors?
- What are defective pharmaceuticals?
- What is the value of my Kentucky pharmacy malpractice claim?
- How long do I have to file a pharmacy malpractice claim in Kentucky?
- Do you have a pharmacy malpractice attorney near me?
What is pharmacy malpractice?
Pharmacy malpractice is a form of medical malpractice. Just like other medical professionals, pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies must exercise a duty of care to prevent injury to patients and consumers. If they fail in that duty and people suffer harm, they can be held liable for medical malpractice and negligence.
This type of negligence occurs when the faulty prescribing of medication and drugs leads to injury or death in a patient due to:
- Adverse reactions
- Improperly filled prescriptions
- Adverse drug interactions
- Medication overdose
- Denial of or lack of access to medication
The attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers can work to determine how your injuries happened and who should be held responsible for your losses and pain and suffering.
Why does Kentucky pharmacy malpractice happen?
Pharmacy errors are happening more than ever, and the rush for profits and meeting corporate metrics may be to blame. A New York Times article reports:
In letters to state regulatory boards and in interviews with The New York Times, many pharmacists at companies like CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens described understaffed and chaotic workplaces where they said it had become difficult to perform their jobs safely, putting the public at risk of medication errors.
They struggle to fill prescriptions, give flu shots, tend the drive-through, answer phones, work the register, counsel patients and call doctors and insurance companies, they said — all the while racing to meet corporate performance metrics that they characterized as unreasonable and unsafe in an industry squeezed to do more with less.
“I am a danger to the public working for CVS,” one pharmacist wrote in an anonymous letter to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy in April.
The NYT also mentions patients who were given ear drops instead of eye drops, blood pressure medication instead of asthma medication, and a cancer drug instead of blood pressure medication – in the latter instance, an error that proved fatal.
What are the different types of pharmacy errors?
While most medication errors occur back at the hospital or doctor’s office, pharmacy malpractice happens when pharmacists violate their duty of care to their patients. This errors can include:
- Dispensing the wrong medication
- Dispensing the wrong dosage
- Providing the incorrect directions for use
- Failure to advise, including drug interactions or warnings
- Failure to check for medication interactions
- Failure to check for allergies
These are just a few examples – any sort of negligence, carelessness, or even intention on the part of a pharmacy or pharmacist can result in injury to a patient. However, pharmacy malpractice can also reach back to the pharmaceutical company or manufacturer.
What are defective pharmaceuticals?
Defective drugs and pharmaceuticals, on the other hand, are medications or devices that were dangerous from the minute they left the manufacturer. They typically have adverse and serious side effects; side effects so severe and deadly that they outweigh the potential benefits of the drug. In the United States, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) oversees drug safety and recalls.
Per the FDA, “A drug recall is the most effective way to protect the public from a defective or potentially harmful product. A recall is a voluntary action taken by a company at any time to remove a defective drug product from the market.” They also maintain a current list of drug alerts and statements on their website.
Just a sampling of some of the defective prescription drugs that have caused harm and injury to patients over the past few years include:
- Truvada
- Nexium
- Zofran
- Actos
- Accutane
- Celebrex
- Fosamax
- Risperdal
- Depakote
- Invokana
- Onglyza
- Valsartan
Prescription medical devices can also be defective and cause injury to patients. Some of these include:
- Bair Hugger Forced Air warming blankets, which caused patients to develop staph infections
- Hip implants, like DePuy, which caused issues like metal poisoning, decreased mobility, and other injuries
- IVC filters, meant to mitigate blood clots, but migrated away in the body or fractured into pieces
- Transvaginal mesh, which caused infections, bleeding, and organ perforations in patients
The Kentucky attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers are here to advocate for your rights if you were injured by a defective medication or medical device. We are happy to discuss the specifics of your case in a free and personal consultation.
What is the value of my Kentucky pharmacy malpractice claim?
Pharmacy malpractice can cause new injuries, cause a condition to become worse, or allow severe conditions to develop unchecked. Our lawyers work to identify all liable parties to ensure you or your loved one secure the maximum compensation to which you are entitled. This can include:
- Medical bills, current and future
- Wage loss and any loss of future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation services and equipment
- Miscellaneous expenses related to your injuries
- Pain and suffering
As every person and every injury is unique, the specific value of your case will depend on your individual circumstances, which we can discuss in your free consultation.
How long do I have to file a pharmacy malpractice claim in Kentucky?
In general, for medical malpractice claims, the statute of limitations in Kentucky is one year. What this means is you have one year to file your claim from the date that your injury or illness occurred, or from the date you are diagnosed with your injury. If the malpractice statute of limitations expires before you file your claim, you will no longer be able to seek compensation for your losses.
Do you have a pharmacy malpractice attorney near me?
Wilt Injury Lawyers has offices in Louisville and Lexington:
If you are too injured or ill to travel to us, we can arrange a phone or video conference. We also make hospital visits when necessary.
Contact an experienced Lexington and Louisville pharmacy malpractice lawyer today
When pharmacists make mistakes with medication, patients can suffer a variety of serious injuries or complications. Pharmaceutical companies owe patients and consumers a duty of care as well. The Kentucky malpractice attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers understand how to take on these complex cases when you are injured due to pharmaceutical negligence. Let us work to secure maximum compensation for your losses while you take the time you need to recover from your injuries. Call 502-253-9110 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We maintain offices in Lexington and Louisville, and proudly serve clients throughout Kentucky.