Wrong Prescriptions - GP Negligence

Wrong Prescriptions Issued To You By Your Doctor

When we visit our GP with any kind of ailment we rely on their experience and professionalism to identify the cause of the problem and to prescribe an appropriate treatment. In some cases this might be a referral to a specialist, or in many cases the GP themselves will write out a prescription for treatment such as pills, medicine, cream etc that can be taken to a pharmacy for collection.

In most cases the treatment that is prescribed will help to relieve symptoms and bring some relief, but sometimes things go wrong and the outcomes can be very severe. Sometimes this can mean that an illness remains untreated and can become more serious, whereas sometimes the treatment that is prescribed can itself make the patient more poorly, such as cases where allergies and intolerances are involved.

Occasionally the mistake occurs as the result of the doctor simply getting it wrong and prescribing a treatment that is not suitable for the illness. This might be due to a misunderstanding of the illness or the treatment itself and can thus be described as negligent treatment for which compensation can be sought.

In some cases the medication might be correct, but if the suggested dosage is wrong – either too high or too low – it can be very dangerous.

Simple communication issues can also lead to serious mistakes; take for example the man who suffered from an acute bowel condition that was treated with Loperamide. He collected his medication prior to going on holiday and took it as usual but suffered with diarrhoea and fatigue throughout his holiday. Only after double-checking his medication did he notice that instead of Loperamide he had been given Loratadine – an antihistamine drug. He was awarded £4,000 in compensation.

If you or someone you care for has suffered as a result of being prescribed the wrong medication, or the wrong dose of medication, it is likely that you will be eligible to make a claim for compensation. Our friendly and highly experienced solicitors are on hand now to listen to your story and help you decide whether a claim is the right way forward. Claims of this nature must be presented within three years of the problem occurring, so don’t put it off until it is too late, contact us today and let us see how we can help you get the compensation pay-out you and your family deserve.