Those taking medication must know the safe amount that they can take of the drug so that overdoses can be prevented effectively. Overdoses can occur intentionally and unintentionally. A patient’s risk of overdose can be estimated by their mental health history, the risk and potency of the drug they have been prescribed and any other health issues that they have.
It’s important that medical professionals adequately and accurately assess the risk of overdose in patients. Those with dementia or amnesia may be at a particularly high risk of accidental overdose because they may forget when they took their medication last.
If you or a loved one has suffered as the result of an overdose, you should look into your possible options for taking legal action. The following are examples of circumstances where this can be possible.
We understand that medical malpractice is a major concern for patients, so here are a couple of instances where you may hold a doctor liable for overdoses.
Doctors are Liable for Overdoses When Medication Errors are Made
Sometimes, medical professionals make errors in prescribing the correct dose of medication to patients. This can be due to an error in calculation, but this does not mean it is acceptable. If this error led to damages, you may be able to take legal action.
Doctors are Liable for Overdoses When They Use Negligent Judgement
If a person is suffering from severe depression, prescribing quantities of a drug that could be fatal if taken at once could be seen to be negligent. It is vital that medical professionals make ethical judgments based on what they know about the patient.
If you or a loved one has been negatively affected by poor prescription judgments, you should look into your options to make a medical malpractice claim in Southfield.