Medication Overdose

Medication Overdose Attorneys in Illinois and Missouri

Medication errors at hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and other health care facilities are all too common in Illinois, Missouri, and throughout the United States. One of the most common types of medication errors is an overdose of medication, through either the wrong amount or the wrong frequency of administration. Nurses, doctors, pharmacists and others who are responsible for medication overdoses may be liable for damages that are caused by their errors, including additional medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At the Belleville, Illinois, law firm of Ripplinger & Zimmer, L.L.C., our medical malpractice lawyers have more than 30 years of combined experience and have obtained large settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. We know how to thoroughly investigate and pursue incidences of medication errors or medication overdose that have caused serious injuries or illnesses. Most medication errors can be avoided with proper training and an adherence to standard medical procedures and standards of care. When these measures are not taken, it is important to hold those individuals accountable for their mistakes.

Contact Ripplinger & Zimmer, L.L.C., to schedule a free initial consultation by e-mail or by calling at 618-234-2440.

Causes of Wrong Dosage Administration and Medication Overdoses

According to an FDA study in 2005, approximately 7,000 deaths related to medication errors occur in the United States each year. About 1 out of every 5 doses of medication given in U.S. hospitals involves a medication error of some kind. The study also found that the most common types of errors were from administering improper dosages (nearly 41% of cases) or the wrong drugs to patients (19%).

Causes of medication errors and wrong dosage administration include:

  • Dose miscalculations
  • Prescribing errors
  • Lack of patient education
  • Improper training or education or nurses and other medical professionals
  • Packaging errors
  • Poor handwriting on prescriptions

These errors can cause a variety of injuries to patients or aggravate existing conditions. Pursuing damages in these cases is not only important for the recovery process of affected individuals, but is crucial to the exposure and reduction of future medications errors in Illinois and Missouri medical facilities.

Contact Ripplinger & Zimmer, L.L.C. for More Information

If you or someone you love has been injured due to a medication error or overdose, contact a medical malpractice lawyer at Ripplinger & Zimmer, L.L.C., and learn more about your rights and options to pursue compensation. Call 618-234-2440 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation and get the legal service you deserve.