Patients rely on prescription and over-the-counter medications to treat a wide range of medical conditions. These drugs are often prescribed by a doctor.
The labeling on pharmaceutical products is expected to provide accurate information to both the patient and healthcare provider about dosage, side effects, and instruction as to how the drug should be taken or administered. However, this information will only help ensure patient safety if a physician stays informed about changes in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug label guidelines.
According to a recent ModernMedicine article, statistics indicate that approximately 30 percent of medical malpractice lawsuits are associated with medication errors. Some of these suits relate to physician error when prescribing or recommending a contraindicated drug.
New Jersey based PDR Network reports that 25 percent of FDA-approved drugs contained in the 2011 Physicians’ Desk Reference are either new or have had major changes to their labels since the PDR’s 2010 edition. In medication-related medical malpractice lawsuits, the FDA-approved labeling in effect at the time the prescription was written should be evaluated to establish the standard of care applicable to healthcare providers prescribing medications.
Patients should not suffer injuries as a result of a healthcare provider’s negligence in failing to stay up-to-date on recent changes in drug labeling. Medication-related errors can cause a patient’s death or lead to serious physical, emotional, and financial harm.
At Blume Forte, our New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers have the experience and resources required to help patients or family members afflicted by medication errors. Call us at 973-845-4421 for a no-cost consultation.