Drug manufacturing, pharmacology, and the process of prescribing drugs require people to work with great care and precision at every step of the process. One possible risk for patients who need to take medications is allergic reactions. Medication errors can be severe, causing illnesses that can have life-long implications such as brain damage.
If you or a loved one was given a prescription drug that resulted in a severe allergic reaction, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Talk to a Tampa personal injury lawyer today to see if you could be entitled to compensation for your damages. When medication errors occur, it is essential that the negligent party is held responsible, whether that is a doctor, a pharmacist, or a pharmaceutical company.
Our lives are in their hands, and if someone’s carelessness has caused you severe side effects, then you should seek justice through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact The Law Place today on (941) 444-4444 to arrange a free case evaluation, where we will offer legal advice so that you can decide how you would like to proceed.
How Do Allergic Reactions to Prescription Drugs Happen in Tampa, FL?
If someone has a known allergy to a drug, then it should be noted in their record so that their doctors are aware of the allergy and can avoid the drug in their treatment.
Sometimes, medication errors occur because of binding and filling agents or inactive ingredients in the medication. For example, some medications use milk-derivative products as a binding or filling agent. If someone has a severe lactose allergy, their doctor should avoid these types of medications.
When a patient is given prescription drugs that they are allergic to, it can have serious ramifications, such as brain damage, fever, drops in blood pressure, seizures, trouble breathing, and unconsciousness. When this happens, a medical malpractice lawsuit could be necessary in order for the patient to claim damages for their side effects, liability could sit with the pharmaceutical company, the doctor, or the pharmacist.
When the Doctor Is Negligent
When someone has prescribed a drug that they have a known allergy to, this could be medical malpractice. However, it is more likely that the allergy was unknown. In this scenario, the doctor could still be liable for damages if they failed to perform allergy testing. However, in order to prove negligence, you will need to prove that the doctor did not act as they reasonably should have, if a medication was needed quickly, it might mean that they did not have time to test for allergies.
If you are unsure whether you have a case, then contact our law firm today for a free case evaluation.
When the Pharmaceutical Company Is Negligent
Most of the time, the doctor is not at fault for an allergic reaction. Pharmaceutical companies have been known to make medication errors, which are the root cause of the side effects of medication.
Prescription drugs are usually manufactured and stored alongside other drugs, and when the correct procedures are not in place, they can contaminate each other. For example, if machines are insufficiently cleaned or when they are improperly stored. If the patient’s allergy is severe, then contamination alone will be enough to have serious consequences.
This is clear medical malpractice, and the responsible party must be held accountable. Cross-contamination often occurs where pharmaceutical companies are trying to cut corners and save on costs. This can lead to life-altering side effects and even death. This multi-billion-dollar industry that is responsible for public health must be held liable for their actions so that in the future, it is not cost-effective for them to cut corners and put lives at risk.
When Pharmacists Are Negligent
In some rare circumstances, a pharmacist may be liable. Pharmacists are able to alter drugs from what is prescribed by a doctor, while they shouldn’t prescribe a completely different drug, Florida law allows them to substitute in a different version of a drug to save the patient money. However, if the doctor prescribed a specific brand name drug in order to avoid a potential allergic reaction, substituting a different drug could be catastrophic.
Symptoms of Allergic Reactions to Drugs
Side effects of a serious drug allergy usually occur within an hour of taking a drug. Other reactions, particularly rashes, can occur hours, days, or weeks after. If you are concerned that you are suffering an allergic reaction, you should call for emergency medical assistance in Tampa immediately. If it is not treated, your medical situation could worsen.
Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Wheezing.
- Skin rash.
- Hives.
- Runny nose.
- Itching.
- Shortness of breath.
- Itchy, watery eyes.
- Swelling.
- Fever.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis from medication is a rare occurrence, but it can be life-threatening. Symptoms include:
- Loss of consciousness.
- Drop in blood pressure.
- Seizure.
- Tightening of the airways and throat.
- Nausea or abdominal cramps.
- Weak, rapid pulse.
- Trouble breathing.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience Other Conditions Resulting From Drug Allergy
Less common reactions could occur days or weeks after. These conditions include:
- Drug-induced anemia – A reduction in red blood cells, causing fatigue, irregular heartbeats, and shortness of breath.
- Serum sickness – Resulting in fever, swelling, rash, joint pain, and nausea
- Inflammation in the kidneys (nephritis) – Resulting in general swelling, blood in the urine, fever, and confusion.
- Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) – Causing high white blood cell count, rash, general swelling, swollen lymph nodes, and recurrence of previous hepatitis infection.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. What Damages Can I Claim for in Tampa, FL?
In a medical malpractice lawsuit, the responsible party could owe you damages for your suffering. Some of the types of compensation you might be able to claim are:
- Medical expenses, past present, and future.
- Pain and suffering.
- Transport to and from the hospital.
- Lost wages if you have missed time from work.
- Future care needs.
- Lost earning potential.
- Emotional anguish.
- Compensation for the death of a loved one, including funeral expenses and loss of income to a family household.
Reactions to Medication in Tampa
If you or a loved one suffered because of the negligence of a doctor, hospital, pharmacy, or pharmaceutical company, then you should fight for your right to compensation. Determining who is at fault and why takes a lot of time, skill, and effort, especially when you are dealing with large pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, if your case goes to court, then you may require the representation of a Tampa lawyer to ensure that you have a strong case. A personal injury lawyer at The Law Place will be dedicated to justice and will fight with you every step of the way.
According to a John Hopkins study, medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is important that everyone can trust our medical system and feel safe when they receive medication. Stand up against medical negligence with help from a personal injury lawyer and make medication safer.
How a Tampa Law Firm Can Help
We always recommend speaking to a lawyer after an adverse response to medical treatment. Your lawyer will have dealt with medical malpractice cases in Tampa before and will fight to seek compensation for your suffering and protect your rights.
Once you contact us here at The Law Place, for a free case review, we can start to make a life a little easier for you. Our law firm will take over the investigation, allowing you time to recover mentally and physically.
During your free consultation, your injury attorney will ask some simple questions. They will be able to give you honest and unbiased advice as to whether we think you have a valid claim.
Following your free review, if you decide to proceed with your personal injury case, we will arrange an in-depth consultation in Tampa. Using the information we gather in this meeting, we will begin to build your medical malpractice case. Your attorney will inform you of the fee structure, and at this point, you can walk away, or you can choose to sign to agree to representation.
The Advantage of Legal Representation
Studies show that when you hire an attorney, you are more likely to receive compensation. In one study, 91% of cases with representation resulted in a payout. Furthermore, when you hire The Law Place for your personal injury case, if you don’t win, you don’t pay, so you have nothing to lose.
Most cases end in settlement, and never go to court; this keeps things a lot simpler and could prevent a lot of stress. Therefore, we will do everything we can to fight for a good injury settlement amount. However, if your case does go to court, then we will be ready and will have already built up a good amount of evidence.
Legal representation almost always results in a bigger payout. Even after deducting legal fees, the average payout is substantially more. Beyond fighting for the amount you deserve in compensation, having a lawyer by your side takes a lot of the pressure off you. No-one should face the complexities and stresses of the Florida legal system alone.
How Long Do You Have to File A Medication Lawsuit?
In Tampa, you are restricted by the Floridas Statute of limitations, which is laid out in Florida Statue 95.11. These laws state that you have up to four years from the date of the procedure to make a personal injury claim.
However, the sooner, the better as your lawyer will be better able to collect evidence. Lawsuits involving prescription drugs can be complex because there could be so many parties involved. It is beneficial to establish fault quickly in order to have a successful medical malpractice claim.
Contact The Law Place Today!
When you call us, you will speak to a dedicated attorney who is ready to fight for your rights. Everyone who works at our law firm has a passion for holding people responsible for negligent actions that cause people suffering. When you have been prescribed a drug, you need to feel safe that you are doing the right thing for your health. The American healthcare system is far from perfect, and it is up to people like us to put the pressure on and make it a safer space for everyone.
Here at The Law Place, we have been dealing with personal injury cases like yours in Tampa and the rest of Florida for over 75 years collectively. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call us today for a free consultation on (941) 444-4444.
