Pharmacy Errors

Medical errors are the 8th leading cause of wrongful death in the United States. In November 1999, a report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimated that as many as 44,000 to 98,000 patients died annually as the result of medical mistakes in hospitals.

Medication errors not only occur in the hospital settings, but also in doctor's offices, pharmacies, nursing homes, urgent care centers, and more often than not, in home care. Medication errors cause at least one death each day and injure approximately 1.5 million people annually in the US.

Medication mishaps usually occur within the distribution system from the initial prescription, to packaging or repacking in most cases, from the dispensing and administering to lack of a monitoring system. Some common mistakes that result from these errors includes poor procedures and communication, ambiguities in product names, direction on usage, medical abbreviation or writing being used improperly and most often, patients misuse due to poor understanding of the directions for the respective product.

For health care professional, understanding the prevalence and problems of medication errors, reporting the errors and learning about tracking systems that detect and help correct future medical errors is crucial.

Severe pharmaceutical errors occur within 5 - 10 percent of patients admitted to hospitals. These numbers may appear somewhat understate to this problem however, keep in mind they do not include preventable deaths due to medical treatments outside of hospitals.

Unfortunately, there is very little data on the extent of the problem outside of hospitals. The Institute Of Medicine have noted that many errors are likely to occur outside the hospital. A recent investigation of pharmacists conducted by the Massachusetts State Board of Registration in Pharmacy estimated that approximately 2.4 million prescriptions are improperly filled annually in the State.

Medication errors have increased dramatically within the past several years and unfortunately, the problem is expected to escalate as the ‘aging baby boomers’ in addition to the general public becomes increasingly reliant on prescription medications.

Prescription drug errors are usually preventable with the appropriate procedures and precautions being in place, together with the application of reasonable care.

Some very simple precautions you as the patient can take to avoid prescription errors include:
  • Talk with your doctor, ask questions
  • Write down the name of your prescribed drug and exact dosage
  • Select a reputable pharmacy to fill your prescription
  • Check all labels
  • Check to ensure the packaging was not tampered
  • Consult with the pharmacist
  • Avoid if possible, taking in your prescription at the beginning of the month
  • Avoid the drive-up window


Unfortunately, even with all these precautionary measures in hand, pharmaceutical and medication errors continue to occur; and when they are not prevented thus resulting in serious or tragic harm to the patient, the responsible parties should be held liable.

At the Law Office of Aleksandr Vakarev Esq., we believe that holding the negligent pharmacies and negligent medical personnel accountable. Our New York pharmacy negligence Attorneys work with the industry experts to prove your case. Our lawyers, paralegals and investigators work as a team to achieve substantial compensation for our clients who have been harmed by medication errors.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone poor maintenance and negligence, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for:
  • Medical & Hospitalization Bills
  • Cost of Medication
  • Specialized Testing due to Injury
  • Doctors’ follow-up visits
  • Property Damages
  • Loss of Earnings
  • Future Loss of Earnings
  • Emotional Pain & Suffering


With the help of a dedicated New York Personal Injury Attorney at the Law Office of Aleksandr Vakarev Esq, we will determine whether your personal injury case has merit.

WE WILL DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF YOUR ENTITLED COMPENSATION.

Our personal injury lawyers’ work on a contingency basis, so you only pay a fee if we recover money for you. Contact our experienced Attorneys today at the Law Office of Aleksandr Vakarev Esq., for a free consultation at 718-839-6885.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP!!!!

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