A prescription error can have long-term medical consequences for a patient.

Some prescription errors amount to medical negligence with the potential for the victim of the error to receive compensation from the health body that made the prescription mistake.

If you or a member of your family has experienced health problems as a result of a prescription error then our expert medical negligence solicitors can help.

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For no-obligation advice and information, call our specialist medical negligence solicitors today on 01642 252 828 or use our contact form and we will call you back.

Prescription Error Specialists

Prescription errors are a type of medical negligence claim. If you believe that you or a loved one has experienced ill health as a result of a prescription error it is best to talk to specialist solicitors with a proven track record in prescription error claims.

Macks Solicitors have over 25 years of experience in medical negligence cases, including claims involving prescription errors. We combine legal expertise with sensitive and sympathetic legal advice to advise you on whether you have a potential claim and your options.

If you decide that you want to pursue a prescription error claim our personal injury lawyers will do their utmost to ensure that you are supported through your medical negligence claim so you understand the claim process, investigations, and timescales. We are dedicated to helping you receive the compensation you or your family need.

Types of Prescription Error Claims

Medical negligence claims involving prescription mistakes can be made against:

• Chemists and pharmacists
• Doctors and GP practices
• Online prescription services  
• Private hospitals and clinics
• The NHS

Whether you received a private or an NHS prescription you may be entitled to compensation if a mistake was made that amounted to substandard medical care.

Pharmacy Medical Negligence

Prescription errors can also be referred to as pharmacy medical negligence even though the prescription provider may have been a nurse practitioner at your local GP surgery, a hospital pharmacy on your discharge from the hospital, or an online provider filling either a private or an NHS prescription.

Prescription errors are wide-ranging and include:

• Prescribing the wrong medication because of an error reading the prescription
• Providing you with medication meant for someone else
• Not providing you with the correct dosage of your medication
• Giving incorrect directions on how to take the pills or medication
• Not explaining how to take the medication. For example, omitting to include a treatment label on the tablet box
• Failing to check if a prescription is suitable before prescribing. For example, a tablet may have contra-indicators because of your current medications or an existing health condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes  
• Prescribing medication without checking your records to see if you have experienced prior allergic reactions to the medication
• Not checking to see if a prescription remained appropriate for your condition. For example, failing to carry out a prescription review or not conducting blood or liver function tests to make sure the prescribed medicine was still safe for you
• Not warning you about the side effects or the consequences of taking the medication  

Prescription Errors and Medical Negligence

Not all prescription errors amount to medical negligence or result in a compensation claim. For example, if you spotted that you had been given the wrong medicine before you took the tablets you are likely to have a valid complaint to a regulatory body but will not be able to bring a medical negligence claim as you did not suffer ill-health.

To succeed in a pharmacy negligence claim you need to be able to show that the health professional’s treatment fell below a reasonable standard and that you suffered adverse health consequences because of their prescription error.

The health consequences of the prescription error must be in addition to the medical condition you received the prescription for or in addition to the reasonable side effects of the medication.

Health problems experienced due to a prescription error can be wide-ranging and examples include:

• Infection or sepsis because the prescribed medication was not sufficiently strong to treat your health condition or it was the wrong medication
• Fatalities because of overprescribing, such as morphine or other potentially lethal medications if taken at the wrong dosage

With over 25 years of experience handling medical negligence claims, we have achieved substantial compensation and damages in personal injury claims involving prescribing errors by healthcare professionals.

How Macks Can Help

We will thoroughly explore your case and determine the best course of action that is tailored to your specific needs.

We will discuss the funding arrangement that best suits your case and provide you with efficient, practical advice.

Contact us

For more information about making a claim, you can call us on 01642 843 667; alternatively, complete our online contact form and one of our solicitors will be in touch.