Prescription medications are a major part of the American medical landscape. People in New Jersey receive medicines for both minor illnesses and life-threatening diseases. Unfortunately, thousands of people experience negative reactions to their drugs every year. While many of these side effects come with the medication, some reactions stem from human error.
What is an adverse drug reaction?
You have seen advertisements for prescription drugs that end with a litany of side effects. Because pharmaceutical companies test their products on large groups, they can see some of the unpleasant reactions that a new drug might cause. Even while a drug solves a problem in one bodily system, it can cause reactions in another. An adverse drug reaction is a potential side effect that can happen even when the correct drug is administered with the right dosage.
What is an adverse drug event?
An adverse drug event is a negative reaction caused by human error and can be grounds for a medical malpractice suit. The error may stem from the prescribing physician, the pharmacist or a health professional administering the drug. Some of the common causes of an adverse drug event include:
- Receiving the wrong prescription
- Receiving too much of the correct prescription
- Receiving too little of the correct prescription
Protecting yourself from medication errors
Side effects can be an unpleasant part of helpful medical treatment. You should always make sure you know which drugs have been prescribed and their proper doses. When you pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy, it is a good idea to double-check that you are receiving the right medicine. If you have suffered due to an adverse drug event, a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your rights.