Drug Allergies and Medical Malpractice

The medications prescribed by physicians can be comprised of any number of different chemicals, all put together to help treat pain or an illness.  A patient with a hypersensitive immune system could have a reaction to one or more substances that make up their medication.  This could trigger an allergic reaction that jeopardizes their recovery.  If you had a bad reaction to a prescribed medication you may be entitled to compensation for the additional cost of treating the allergy.  Speak with a Missouri medical malpractice attorney to find out if you have a valid complaint for medical negligence.

While a patient is usually asked about any allergies prior to an exam, not all may have been discovered.  The duty of a physician and anyone else responsible for monitoring the patient, is to make sure the patient understands the potential risks and how to proceed if any side effects are noted.  Even your pharmacist takes an active role in this by carefully going over the medication with you before you leave his store.   In a hospital setting, medical staff should be monitoring the patient to ensure that there are no adverse reactions to any prescribed medication.  If any are noted, immediate action should be taken. 

Allergic reaction to medication symptoms are numerous and can vary in severity depending on the patient and the irritant.  The most common is a breakout of a rash known as hives which will usually go away once the medicine is stopped.  Facial swelling, such as the lips and tongue are also common indicators that the medication should be stopped.  Other symptoms such as labored breathing, an increase in heart beat, dizziness and chest pain can be life threatening.  In some instances, airway constriction can be so severe that breathing is stopped completely.  Physicians and nurses are trained to observe signs of an adverse reaction to medication and react appropriately.

There are many drugs that are known to cause adverse reactions in some patients.  For example, heparin, a blood thinning agent, has been known to cause severe allergic reaction in some patients.  These adverse reactions can lead to amputation, heart attack, stroke and possibly death if the patient continues to use the drug.  A Missouri woman suffered from a stroke in the hospital from the administration of heparin.  The symptoms of an allergic reaction were overlooked by her attending physician, who did not think to ask for a consultation from a hematologist.  Not stopping the use of heparin led to the woman’s stroke.  A Missouri jury found the physician to be negligent in his care of the patient and awarded her a $1 million verdict.

St. Louis Medical Malpractice Attorney

It is impossible to tell upfront how a person’s body will react when taking a new medication.  All medical personnel, including pharmacists, should be well schooled on the symptoms of an allergic reaction and how to treat them.  If you have recently had an adverse reaction to a prescribed medication, speak to a Missouri medical malpractice attorney about the details of your case.  If medical negligence was involved, then you are entitled to compensation.

Call (314) 588-7200 to schedule a free consultation with a medical malpractice attorney.

photo credit: Amanda M Hatfield via Flickr