Prescription medications can be tremendously helpful and even life-saving when you’re experiencing a health issue. However, errors in prescribing and dispensing medicines sometimes have catastrophic consequences. A prescribed drug can cause a severe allergic reaction, leading to long-term illness, impairment, and possible fatality.
If you experienced a damaging allergic response due to a medication error, you can explore your options with our team of medical malpractice attorneys at The The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers in Charleston, SC. Our attorney for medication allergic reactions can help you take on negligent healthcare providers and institutions.
What Is an Allergic Reaction to Medication?
Allergic responses linked to medication range widely in severity. Mild symptoms include itching, swelling and hives. Watery eyes and sinus congestion can also happen during an allergic reaction to medication. More serious reactions can result in fever, wheezing and shortness of breath.
Complications associated with drug allergies include anemia, serum sickness and nephritis.
Although rare, anaphylaxis is a severe allergic response that can cause the airways to constrict and make breathing more difficult. Anaphylaxis can lead to seizures, fainting and even death.
In some cases, the actions of healthcare professionals or institutions contribute to medication errors that cause allergic reactions. However, unexpected allergies to medications can occur without any negligence or malpractice.
What Forms of Negligence Contribute to Allergic Reactions?
From attending your initial appointment to receiving your prescription at the pharmacy, there are opportunities for errors that can cause you to receive a drug that results in an allergic response.
Many individuals, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists, can engage in harmful or negligent conduct. Furthermore, the policies of institutions like hospital groups and pharmaceutical companies can create conditions that enable medication errors and contribute to adverse reactions.
Failure to inform
Your medical provider must fully inform you of any risks associated with a drug or treatment, including potential allergic reactions. Healthcare professionals should use language that patients can comprehend when prescribing medication. This includes avoiding complex jargon and providing resources for patients with language barriers and disabilities.
Insufficient medical history
To make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate drug, your doctor should review your medical history. Failing to obtain a complete picture of your medical past might cause your healthcare provider to overlook the potential for a harmful allergic reaction to a medication.
Pharmacy errors
Negligence in dispensing prescriptions can also lead to serious allergic responses. Medication errors at pharmacies may involve miscommunication or clerical errors. Sometimes, pharmacy workers fill prescriptions incorrectly and give out the wrong medication, which you happen to be allergic to.
Can You Sue for an Allergic Reaction?
After a serious allergic reaction to medication, you should prioritize healing from your symptoms.
Filing a medical malpractice claim can provide support and help you protect your rights as you recover. You can seek compensation from individual providers and healthcare institutions through legal action.
When filing your medical malpractice claim, it’s important to demonstrate a direct link between the medical negligence that occurred and the allergic reaction you suffered. Our legal team can help you present evidence and arguments that establish liability and prove causation.
What Does a Settlement for an Allergic Reaction Entail?
Settlements for medical malpractice cases generally include compensatory damages. You might receive a payment after negotiating with the at-fault party out of court. If you cannot reach an agreement, bringing a lawsuit could help you obtain the support you need.
Damages for an allergic reaction to medication
A severe allergic response can cause struggles for you and your loved ones and diminish your enjoyment of daily life. For example, engaging in hobbies and keeping up with household obligations can become more difficult after your allergic reaction to medication. General damages in medical malpractice cases can help compensate for the pain and suffering that results from a medication error.
Your settlement for an allergic reaction might also include special damages. You can receive funds to help you pay your current medical bills as well as potential future expenses if you require ongoing treatment. It’s also possible to get compensation for lost income and reduced earning potential if your condition interferes with your ability to work.
When Should You Discuss Your Case With a Lawyer?
Seeking compensation and justice can help you move forward after a severe allergic reaction to medication. Here at The The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers, we have decades of success fighting for patients in Columbia and nearby South Carolina communities who have experienced harm due to medical malpractice. You can call our firm at 803-592-6231 or contact us online for a consultation regarding your case.
