Among the most important functions of a modern healthcare system are the prescription and distribution of medication. Put simply, when patients get the medicine they need, they tend to enjoy much better outcomes than when they don’t. Unfortunately, medication errors, while rare, occur every day in a healthcare system as large as the NHS. And in many cases, they can cause disastrous consequences.
What are the consequences of dispensing errors on patient health and healthcare systems?
The potential impact of a faulty prescription can vary considerably. In some cases, you might suffer no appreciable side effects. In other cases, you might suffer considerably. What’s certain is that, if you’re being given the wrong drugs, then you won’t enjoy the benefits of taking the right drugs.
If patients begin to lose faith in the system to provide them with the right medicine, then they might cease to seek treatment or take the medication that they’re given. This might have knock-on adverse effects, too.
In some cases, a particular medical professional might be responsible for the error. They might be burdened with guilt and shame. But the reality is that systems of this kind should be designed in such a way that individual error has limited opportunity to cause this kind of damage.
In some cases, medical negligence law might allow for a remedy to be pursued through the courts. Bear in mind that it isn’t just individuals who can be held accountable, but entire organisations, like the NHS, too.
How can victims navigate the legal system to pursue compensation claims following medication mismanagement?
If you, or someone you know, has fallen victim to this kind of error, then you might pursue compensation through the courts. To stand the best chance of success, it’s worth seeking out a solicitor that specialises in this area of law.
Often, you’ll need to establish that a medical professional in the same situation would not have made the same error. To do this, you’ll often need to have other medical experts testify on your behalf. This is another advantage of calling on experienced lawyers: they’ll have the contacts necessary to secure the relevant witness.
Error is a part of the job for medical professionals (a fact acknowledged by the NHS), and so you’re unlikely to encounter significant resistance unless your case departs markedly with precedent. Your solicitor will be able to advise you whether this is the case.
Most cases of this kind are settled out of court, and without the involvement of the claimant. They also tend to be taken on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means that you won’t risk financial ruin by pursuing the case.
