If you've suffered due to a medication error, you could make a compensation claim
Unfortunately, inaccurate or incomplete medication for an injury or illness can cause your condition to get worse. It can have psychological as well as physical effects and, in severe cases, medication errors can even be fatal.
If you or a loved one has suffered because of a medication error, either by NHS or private care, then you could make a medical negligence claim. You can speak to us for free, impartial advice on , or fill in our secure online form to arrange a call back.
We'll never rush or pressure you into going ahead with a case - we give you the support you need and can let you know whether you can claim.
What is considered a medication error?
A medication error refers to a preventable event that leads to incorrect medication being administered to a patient. It can lead to the prescribed medication making your condition worse, rather than better. A medication error can refer to the wrong type of medication given for self administration, or indeed medication such as an anesthetic or injection administered by a healthcare professional themselves. If this has happened to you, then you may be able to claim for medical error compensation.
Medication errors can occur at any stage of the clinical process, for example if given the wrong prescription, when the drug is being prepared or dispensed, or when it is given to or taken by a patient. It is also possible that human error or negligence when entering information into a computer system resulted in the wrong medication being administered.
If any of the above sounds familiar to you, then get in touch with our expert prescription error claims team today. They can be reached for free on offering support, help and advice.
What are some examples of medication errors?
What are some examples of medication errors?
There are many different examples of medication error. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Being given the wrong medication for your condition (as a result of misdiagnosis)
- Receiving an accidental overdose
- Being prescribed medication that affects another previously diagnosed condition
- Combining medications that shouldn't be taken at the same time
- Giving medication to a patient who is allergic
- Being given medication at the wrong time
Being given the wrong prescription or medication can be extremely harmful, resulting in the prolonging or worsening of your condition, meaning that you may have to take unnecessary extra time off work, hospitalisation or even death.
And whilst medication errors can be extremely harmful to any member of society, the impacts are more severe on the elderly as they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of medication errors. Care homes should have procedures in place to avoid medication errors, and to take action quickly if they do happen.
If these procedures aren't followed, or if a care home makes a mistake when giving out medication, then the consequences can be very serious.
If you, a friend or a loved one has suffered medical negligence at the hands of a care home, then you may be able to make a claim either for yourself or on their behalf.
What should I do if I am given the wrong medication?
What should I do if I am given the wrong medication?
If you suspect or know that you've been given the wrong medication, there are several things that you can do. These steps can help provide evidence to support your medical error compensation claim, as well as help prevent any life-threatening health consequences.
Get in contact with your GP or the healthcare professional who administered the suspected incorrect medication. Ask them what they administered, the dosage, and whether or not they have advised that it be taken again. Retain any packaging that you might have been given and if possible, retain a sample of the medication for testing. If you are suffering any adverse effects as a result of medical negligence, visit A&E or consult with your GP about any concerns that you might have.
And importantly, don't forget to obtain a copy of your medical records, which can be used as evidence to show what your initial ailment was, what was incorrectly prescribed and how you suffered as a result.
If you have suffered as a result of medical negligence, for example if your doctor wrote the wrong prescription, or if an incorrect injection or medication was administered, then we're here to help you claim the compensation that you need to get your life back on track. Did the wrong medication mean your condition got worse, or you suffered adverse side effects as a result? Or has the psychological impact affected your ability to lead a normal life?
If the answer to any of the above is ‘yes', then don't delay, reach out to our friendly and supportive team today. We've spent years helping people like you get access to compensation for the wrong medication being administered. Give us a call on , or alternatively start your claim online.
Am I able to claim compensation for a medical error?
If you or a loved one has suffered because of a medication error, either by NHS or private care, then you could make a claim for medical error compensation. When assessing as to whether you have a claim for compensation, our expert solicitors will establish if:
- There was a breach of duty on the part of the medical professional
- This breach of duty was the cause of your injury, damage or loss
If both of the above are shown to be the case, then it's highly likely that you will be able to claim compensation for the wrong medication having been administered or prescribed. The term ‘breach of duty' means that the standard of care received was below the standard you should reasonably expect when dealing with a trained healthcare professional. You will need to be able to demonstrate that this breach was what caused you to suffer, rather than any underlying condition.
As covered earlier, it's really important that you ask to see your medical records and are able to state what medication you were given wrongly, together with a sample if possible.
You can find out if you're able to make a medication error compensation claim by speaking to us today for free on . A member of the team will quickly be able to assess your circumstances and tell you straight away if it makes sense to get you talking to a medical negligence solicitor.
Christelle Mandarin, 31, received £800 after an HIV health scare.
It was a scary time and I didn't want it to happen again. I told National Accident Helpline what happened to me and they listened and were very helpful.
How to find out whether you can make a prescription error claim
If you've suffered a preventable mental or physical injury due to medical negligence within the past 3 years, there's good reason to believe that you may be able to make a claim.
Give us a call for free on . Our team of trained experts are on hand to give free and impartial advice. They'll not only help you find out if you have a claim for making a medical error compensation claim, but will ensure that you make an informed decision that is right for you. They'll never pressure you into making a claim and will only take the next step with you when you're ready.
Alternatively, you can use our online claim checker and answer a few quick questions to give you an indication of the viability of starting a claim with us.
It may feel daunting starting a claim for medical error compensation, particularly if you're worried about it being a waste of time. But don't worry, we're here for you and we'll do all in our power to get you financial compensation at the end of the process. But don't take our word for it - read about how we've helped people like you get the compensation they are entitled to over at our customer stories page.
How much compensation could I claim?
How much compensation could I claim?
With years_since years of accident claims experience, we are able to give you a good estimate of the potential value of your claim for compensation for wrong medication. We have created a handy claims calculator that can be used to give you an idea of the compensation you are entitled to for your medical negligence episode, however the exact amount you might be able to claim will vary depending on your case.
Factors that can influence the amount you can claim include the severity of your injury, the time taken to recover and willingness of the guilty party to settle on the amount put forward by your solicitor.
The table below gives you an idea as to the ranges of compensation for various instances of medication error, including misdiagnosis, negligence in a hospital and a breach of duty on the part of your GP, based on statistics from the Judicial College.
Whether the medical negligence you experienced has occurred because of an NHS or private doctor, you can still claim without worrying that it will affect anyone else's care.
Both the NHS and private healthcare organisations are insured for these types of mistakes, and medical negligence claims are dealt with through their insurers, not the individual healthcare professional who may be at fault. The NHS has a Resolution department to assist with such claims, which you can read more about on our GP negligence page.
It's also important to remember that making a medical negligence claim can help to highlight safety issues; this could help healthcare professionals apply new learnings and make improvements to their processes.
Frequently asked questions...
Every case we work with is different, which makes it hard for us to say how long your compensation claim might take.
In simpler cases, where fault is clear and undeniable the claim may be settled quickly. However, if you've suffered a serious or life-changing injury, then your compensation claim may take longer because we need to understand the full impact of your injury and make sure your costs are covered.
Our solicitors will stay in touch and keep you informed every step of the way, so that you always know what stage your claim is at.
Simply put, medical negligence is where a medical professional or medical institution like a hospital harms a patient by act or omission in the course of treatment or surgical procedure. It also includes things like medical misdiagnosis where a wrongly-identified condition or one missed entirely harms the patient.
Let's look at the health service. NHS Resolution is the body that oversees medical negligence claims against the NHS. Their figures show that there were 15,655 claims settled in 2018/19 and that damages were awarded on 8,712 occasions – that's in almost 56% of cases.
Medicine is complex and so are claims made for negligence: if you think you've been affected, then come and talk to us. You'll be able to chat through your circumstances with one of our expert Personal Injury Advisors - and we'll give you the options you need to make an informed decision about what to do next.
Why choose National Accident Helpline?
We operate on a no win no fee basis, meaning that it's a risk free way to get the compensation you need for an injury or ailment that wasn't your fault. There's nothing to pay upfront and no hidden charges.
Give us a call on or request a call back at a time that is convenient for you so you can speak to a friendly member of the team for free advice today.
What is "No win no fee"
Watch our video to have 'no win no fee' solicitors explained and find out how we work at National Accident Helpline before starting your claim for compensation today.
Read more