Maine Medication Error Lawyers

Medication is meant to heal, not harm. Unfortunately, when a medical professional prescribes, administers, or dispenses the wrong drug or dosage, the consequences can be life-altering or even fatal. Medication errors are among the most common forms of medical malpractice, and sadly, they are almost always preventable.

Berman & Simmons represents Mainers who have suffered life-altering injuries due to medication errors caused by negligent doctors, nurses, hospitals, or pharmacists. If you or a loved one has been seriously harmed in this way, we can help you hold the right people accountable and pursue the full compensation you deserve. 

Berman & Simmons has served individuals and families throughout Maine since 1914 and is known as the state’s most accomplished medical malpractice firm. We combine unmatched proficiency in this field with compassion and human support for clients facing some of life’s most difficult experiences. 

Book a free consultation with a Maine medication errors attorney for advice and guidance. Call us at (207) 417-4199 or reach us online. We offer virtual consultations for your convenience.

The Traumatic Impact of Medication Errors

A medication error can have immediate and long-term effects on your health. The consequences of a medication error can include:

• Severe allergic reactions
• Organ damage or failure
• Seizures, strokes, or cardiac events
• Adverse drug interactions
• Worsening of the original condition
• Long-term disability
• Death, in the most tragic cases

Beyond the physical toll, these pharmaceutical mistakes can cause emotional distress, unexpected financial strain, and a deep erosion of trust in the medical system.

Common Types of Medication Errors

Medication errors can occur at any stage in the treatment process: prescription, dispensing, administration, or monitoring. 

Common types include the following.

• Wrong medication: Giving the patient the incorrect drug entirely
• Incorrect dosage: Administering too much or too little of the correct medication
• Improper route of administration: For example, giving a drug intravenously instead of orally
• Failure to check for allergies: Ignoring a known drug allergy in the patient’s chart
• Harmful drug interactions: Prescribing medications that negatively interact with others
• Look-alike/sound-alike drug confusion: Mixing up drugs with similar names or packaging
• Mislabeling or incorrect instructions: Leading to incorrect use by the patient
• Failure to monitor side effects or toxicity

These errors are especially dangerous for vulnerable patients, such as children, the elderly, and those on multiple medications.

Who May Be Held Responsible?

Medication errors can result from the negligence of any number of healthcare providers or institutions, including:

• Physicians who prescribe the wrong medication or fail to review your complete medical history
• Nurses who administer the wrong drug or incorrect dosage
• Pharmacists who wrongly fill a prescription or fail to detect a dangerous interaction
• Hospitals or clinics that fail to implement or follow safety protocols
• Electronic health record systems that are mismanaged or contain outdated information

At Berman & Simmons, we investigate every link in the chain to identify how and where the failure occurred and who should be held legally responsible. 

Compensation in a Medication Error Claim

A successful medication error claim may compensate for economic and non-economic damages, including the following.

Economic damages: 

• Emergency and corrective medical treatment
• Long-term care or rehabilitation
• Lost wages or loss of earning capacity
• Out-of-pocket expenses

Non-economic damages:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disability or disfigurement

If the error resulted in death, families may be eligible to pursue wrongful death damages, including funeral costs and the loss of financial and emotional support.