An error in a patient’s prescription medication could have catastrophic health effects, and patients should be aware of their rights. Pharmacists have a duty to provide patients with the proper medication and dosage.
The Georgia Board of Pharmacy regulates the activities that go on in Atlanta pharmacies. As such, they are responsible for outlining the proper practices of pharmacists. Pharmacists in Georgia are trained as to the proper dosage of drugs, and use the same texts and references as doctors when they are filling prescriptions. These important references clearly cover potential drug interactions, side effects and warnings for each drug. Therefore, Georgia pharmacists have all of the necessary references and knowledge available to them in order to properly fill prescriptions and serve their patients.
A pharmacist is thus responsible for interpreting prescriptions and consulting with the prescribing doctor if there is any doubt as to the prescription. Potential sources of doubt include: not being certain about which medication is being prescribed, what the dosage is and how it is to be applied. If any doubt exists, it should be resolved by the pharmacist contacting the doctor to make certain of this information.
A pharmacist’s failure to comply with this important duty to interpret prescriptions accurately is what leads to most prescription misfills and other related malpractice claims. When a prescription is filled incorrectly due to misinterpretation of the prescription, the pharmacist generally is at fault because he or she is the last person to check the prescription before the patient gets it.
While it is the pharmacists primary responsibility to make sure that prescriptions get filled properly, pharmaceutical errors can be reduced if patients are careful and take precautions. Here are several things you can do in order to reduce prescription errors:
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Carefully read your prescription before leaving the doctor’s office and making sure the writing is easy to read.
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Ask the doctor verbally about the drug and dosage schedule and then compare that information with what is written on the prescription form.
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Ask the pharmacist to read the prescription aloud before filling the prescription.
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Carefully read the label on the prescription bottle once it is filled to make sure it reflects what your doctor prescribed.
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Ask the pharmacist to open the prescription bottle and confirm the medication inside is the kind and correct dosage of medication you were to receive.
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Take the opportunity to ask the pharmacist about any new medication and clarify any potential interactions with other drugs you take.
Claims against a pharmacist or pharmacy can be complicated due to their specialized nature. That is why it is important to hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney to tackle these complex legal issues.
Robert Webb is an Atlanta personal injury lawyer with Webb & D’Orazio, a law firm specializing in Atlanta personal injury, malpractice, criminal defense, and business law. Learn more at Webbdorazio.com.
