Pharmaceutical Errors On the Rise According to Austin Personal Injury Attorney

About 1.3 million people across the U.S. will die each year as a result pharmacy errors or wrongfully prescribed drugs. Pharmaceutical mistakes are on the rise.

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) November 9, 2010 – It’s not a secret that medical malpractice lawsuits are growing every year, despite some states capping a victim’s award. Companion cases to medical errors made by surgeons, doctors, nurses and dentists are pharmaceutical mistakes that are growing by leaps and bounds every year. In fact, close to 1.3 million people will die in the U.S. this year as a result of incorrectly prescribed or wrongly filled prescriptions.

“This is alarming, as just about everyone you may know has taken or is taking some kind of pill prescribed by a doctor. Taking drugs is a common daily occurrence for just about three quarters or more of the population.

Consider what would happen if the drugs you are taking cause deadly side effects because the dose was wrong or it was the wrong drug? It’s happened, because humans make mistakes, whether they are medical professionals or not,” said Brooks Schuelke, an Austin personal attorney with Perlmutter & Schuelke, L.L.P.

Those taking their daily medications might want to pause and read the label closely, just to make sure it is the correct drug in the proper dosage. They might also want to double check any prescription they are handed by a doctor to verify what they’re being told to take and why, and then check again at the drug store to see if the right drug is dispensed. It’s not too far-fetched to find that the drug in the bottle is not the one it is supposed to be, because they looked similar on the shelf.

Pharmaceutical errors happen just about anywhere within the medical system; in a hospital room, in a nursing home, at the drug store and in the doctor’s office. Medical professionals are human and humans make mistakes, despite their best intentions. Taking the wrong pill has the potential to cause grave side effects or even death. Once someone takes the wrong pill or wrong dose, it’s in the body and it can’t come out.

“The bottom line is that we trust our doctors and medical professionals to do what is in our best interests. We trust they understand the effects of the drug they want us to take and that they prescribe drugs that won’t harm us. In this day and age, it’s best to be your own advocate when it comes to keeping track of your medications. It’s your body, your health and your life and you want to get it right,” said Austin personal injury lawyer, Brooks Schuelke.

For those who have suffered as a result of pharmaceutical negligence, consult with a seasoned Austin personal injury lawyer to find out about eligibility for compensation for pain and suffering and mental and emotional trauma.

To learn more or to contact an Austin personal injury lawyer or Austin personal injury attorney, visit http://www.civtrial.com.

Perlmutter & Schuelke, LLP
1717 W. 6th Street, Suite 375
Austin, Texas 78703-4868
Call (512) 476-4944