Certain types of negligent behavior can unintentionally lead to another person’s death. Missouri law allows the survivors to file a lawsuit in regard to what is legally called “wrongful death.” An example of this negligent behavior would be a pharmacist or pharmacy technician providing the wrong medication for a prescription or the wrong dosage. If personnel at a hospital or clinic provide prescription drugs to a patient without taking into consideration the individual’s medical history and current medication use, that could also lead to a fatality. A Wrongful Death Attorney in Poplar Bluff, MO can help the family of the deceased person file a lawsuit for damages.
Drug interactions might involve a dangerous reaction when two substances are taken at the same time. In other cases, one medication makes the second drug less effective, which can be harmful when the individual needs that drug to survive. Doctors must be vigilant about checking the patient’s current medication usage before prescribing any drugs, and pharmacists are required to provide written information about drug interactions as well as possible side effects.
Not only prescription medications can have dangerous interactions with one another. A doctor must find out whether a patient is taking herbal remedies or over-the-counter medicines as well. The herb St. John’s wort, for instance, can be hazardous to take with antidepressants and certain other drugs. Patients must be advised to stop taking any herbal remedies or other substances that could interact with the newly prescribed drug.
If a pharmacist or pharmacy technician puts a higher dosage than is prescribed into the container or puts the wrong dosage on the label, this can be dangerous for the patient. An individual who takes too much of a blood-thinning medication, for instance, could develop internal bleeding.
A Wrongful Death Attorney in Poplar Bluff, MO also can help a family of a person who died because he was provided with the wrong drug in his prescription container. The person filling the container may have been in a hurry, or the person stocking the shelves may have put medication in the wrong place. When packaging or the pills themselves look similar to other medicines, errors can result if staff members are not extremely careful at all times. The family of the deceased person may want to contact a firm such as the Little, Schellhammer, Richardson & Knowlan Law Offices for a free initial consultation.
