Prescription Error Lawyers in Sacramento

Holding Pharmacies Accountable for Serious Medication Errors

Each year, pharmaceutical providers like CVS Health, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Walmart fill billions of prescriptions for patients across the United States. Representing well over half of the market share in the $440 billion pharmaceutical industry, these retailers have a responsibility to ensure that their pharmacists and internal systems can protect consumers from severe medication errors, which can have life-altering consequences for victims.

However, the New York Times reported in January 2020 that many pharmacists at Walgreens and CVS are dealing with chronically understaffed and chaotic workplaces, as well as intense pressure to meet corporate sales goals at the pharmacy counter. Because of these alleged practices and continued reports of errors, many plaintiffs have come forward to file prescription error lawsuits against these pharmaceutical chains. If you or your loved ones have been seriously injured as a result of pharmaceutical error, you could also be eligible to file a lawsuit.

Contact our Sacramento prescription error lawyers at (916) 520-6639today or submit our online contact formto schedule a free consultation. 

Causes of Prescription Error

Medication error occurs whenever a healthcare provider – typically a pharmacist – gives a patient the wrong dosage or type of medication for their prescription. While most of these errors involve minor dosage issues and will not lead to severe injuries, others can cause life-threatening complications, often sending vulnerable patients to the emergency room or hospital. It’s estimated that in the United States, up to 9,000 people die annually because of dangerous medication errors, and thousands more may suffer serious injuries.

In general, prescription error is caused by the following factors:

• Understaffing at pharmacy counters
• Issues with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems
• Chronic fatigue due to long pharmacy hours
• Poor communication between health providers
• Incorrect use of medical abbreviations

Prescription error has always been a problem for the medical industry, but in recent years, the problem has been aggravated by a singular factor: aggressive corporate sales quotas at the nation’s largest pharmacies and chains. In the New York Times investigation, reporters found that dozens of state regulatory boards had been overwhelmed with complaints from disturbed pharmacists, claiming that it was difficult to perform their jobs safely while meeting strict performance goals and doing additional “busywork.” A later investigation found that at Walgreens, senior leaders directed external consultants to hide similar findings about systemic medication errors. Worried about losing their jobs, many pharmacists have been forced to share their complaints anonymously.

Dedicated Advocacy for Injured Patients and Consumers

In response to these and other reports, some patients have come forward to file lawsuits after getting the wrong prescription at Walgreens, CVS, or Rite Aid. If you or a loved one have suffered catastrophic injuries because of an avoidable pharmaceutical error, our Sacramento attorneys at Kershaw Talley Barlow can pursue justice on your behalf.

With over 100 years of experience taking on some of the largest pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers in the world, our team has recovered more than $1 billion for injured consumers and patients. Dedicated to our clients’ needs, we have the passion and resources to fully investigate each claim – and give you the answers that you deserve.

Call our team at (916) 520-6639or contact us online today. We serve clients in California and nationwide.