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Types of Errors

Dangerous and Defective Drugs If you put your trust in a pharmaceutical company and were hurt by their product, you deserve compensation for your suffering.
Wrong Medication Did you receive the wrong medication or incorrect prescription from a pharmacy? If you have suffered because of a medication error please call us for a free case review.
Wrong Dosage Common forms of medication error: incorrect dosage error. Order our free book to learn how to protect yourself and your family from wrong dosage errors.
Other Errors Order our free book, "How to Make Pharmacies Pay for your Injuries Caused by Medication Errors, to learn your rights in prescription error cases.
Kids Rx Errors Order a free copy of The Top 10 Tips to Protect Your Children Against Pharmacy Errors. If you have suffered a prescription error contact our firm today.
Pharmacy Malpractice If you have suffered an injury because a pharmacy dispensed the wrong medication or made an error with your prescription, you are able to file a claim for negligence or malpractice and receive the compensation you deserve.
Walgreens Pharmacy Error Claims There have been numerous claims brought against Walgreens for pharmacy errors or prescription errors. Order our free book to learn how to take action.
CVS Pharmacy Error Claims If you've been injured because of a CVS Pharmacy prescription error, call us for help with your lawsuit at 888-526-7616.
State Pharmacy Boards If you have been severely injured because of a medication error, contact board-certified attorneys immediately to investigate your case free of charge.
Drug & Pharmacy Error Prevention Filing a pharmacy error lawsuit is the only way to make pharmacies take accountability for mistakes. Call our board certified attorneys for a free case review.
State Pharmacy Laws State laws on pharmacy malpractice. Learn the pharmacy error Statute of Limitation laws that apply to your state. Call 877-342-2020 for a free consultation.

Pharmacy Technician Prepares the Wrong Prescription, More Common Than You Think

David W. Hodges
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Partner at Kennedy Hodges LLP practicing pharmacy error, medical malpractice and personal injury law

Pharmacists are increasingly relying on pharmacy technicians to fill prescriptions. While most pharmacies have double and even triple checks in place to catch mistakes made by technicians, sometimes errors get passed over by busy pharmacists and the wrong medication reaches unsuspecting patients.

When pharmacy errors occur because of technicians, pharmacists are usually the ones who suffer the consequences, and patients are the ones who pay the price.

According to the National Patient Safety Foundation, about 30 million dispensing errors occur out of the three billion prescriptions that are filled. Dispensing errors commonly occur when:

  • Pharmacy technicians get a patient’s name wrong, resulting in the incorrect patient receiving the prescription.
  • Pharmacy technicians dispense the wrong drug because they didn’t read the prescription carefully. They may confuse it with a drug that has a similar name or is similar in appearance.
  • Pharmacy technicians substitute one medication for another drug without calling a patient’s doctor.
  • Pharmacy technicians dispense medication that has expired, which can cause harm or not be effective once the drug is past its expiration date.
  • Pharmacy technicians fill the wrong medication because they misinterpret a doctor’s handwriting.

Whether because they are overworked, tired, distracted, or negligent, pharmacy technicians have caused patients to become ill or worse die, due to allergic reactions or overdose.

What if a pharmacy technician prepared a fatal dose of medication?

In the case of fatal error, the pharmacist will pay the consequences of the technician’s mistake; a pharmacist is supposed to check each and every prescription for accuracy before it reaches the patient’s hands. The penalty could be prison time, a large fine, and/or revocation of his or her license. Depending on the situation, the technician may not even incur a fine or other penalty.

Most pharmacy malpractice errors occur because pharmacy technicians are too busy, distracted, overworked, or lack training. And when pharmacists are too busy or distracted to double check the medicines against the prescriptions, disaster can occur.

If you were a victim of pharmacy malpractice caused by a negligent pharmacy technician or pharmacist, you need to call Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. at 888-526-7616 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Texas pharmacy malpractice lawyer to find out your rights regarding a wrong medication lawsuit. Additionally, we will provide you with a FREE copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

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