Our loved ones in Nursing Homes are often on a number of medications to address multiple issues. Great care must be taken that residents receive the proper medications on the proper timetable laid out by Physicians. Not all nursing homes perform to a high standard – when that happens Medication Errors can have serious consequences to nursing home residents.
Lenahan & Dempsey Can Help
When your loved one has been harmed following a Medication Error in a Pennsylvania Nursing Home, we are here to help.
At Lenahan & Dempsey we have won Hundreds and Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for our injured clients – including those who have suffered following a Medication Error in a Nursing Home.
Following a medication error, it is important you reach out to us as soon as possible so we can protect the rights of your loved on and begin to gather evidence to prove your case.
Call us 24/7 at 1.888.536.2426.
There’s no obligation to get a free case evaluation and there’s never a fee until you get the money you deserve.
What Are Medication Errors?
Medication errors refer to any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or harm to a patient. In nursing homes, these errors can take various forms, including:
Failure to administer medications. Through neglect, mistakes, staffing issues and more, missing doses or delaying medication delivery can cause harm to a nursing home resident.
Incorrect dosages - Administering too much or too little of a medication to a resident.
Wrong medications – It’s not uncommon for a Nursing Home to give medication to the wrong resident. Depending on the medication and the resident, this can cause serious harm.
Improper administration - Administering medications in a manner inconsistent with approved and established protocols. An example would be crushing pills that should not be crushed. This can allow medicine to enter the resident’s system far too quickly and cause permanent damage.
Lack of monitoring - Failing to observe residents for side effects or adverse reactions after administering medication.
Common Causes of Medication Errors In Pennsylvania Nursing Homes
Some common factors of Medication Errors include:
Poor staffing - High resident-to-staff ratios can lead to rushed care and mistakes.
Poor training - Staff members who lack proper training may not be familiar with medication protocols or potential interactions.
Communication Errors - Miscommunication between healthcare providers and nursing home staff can result in errors in medication administration.
Deficient Record-Keeping - Poor documentation practices can lead to confusion regarding medication schedules and dosages.
Pennsylvania Nursing Homes Are Required By Law To Provide High Standards of Care
In Pennsylvania, nursing homes have a legal duty to provide adequate, professional care, which includes properly managing residents' medications. When medication errors occur, they may be considered a form of nursing home negligence.
To establish a case of negligence following a Medication Error, Lenahan & Dempsey Lawyers must show the Nursing Homes failed on numerous fronts including:
- Meeting A High Duty of Care - The nursing home had a responsibility to provide competent medical care.
- Breach of Duty - The nursing home or its staff failed to adhere to the standard of care, resulting in a medication error.
- Causation - The error must have directly caused harm or worsened the resident’s condition.
- Damages - We must show the Court the error resulted in specific damages, such as additional medical treatment, pain and suffering, or loss of quality of life.
Steps To Take If You Suspect a Medication Error Harmed A Loved One In A Nursing Home
If you suspect your loved one has been a victim of a medication error in a nursing home, take the following steps:
- Seek Medical Attention - Ensure that the resident receives prompt medical care to address any adverse effects from the medication error.
- Document Everything - Keep detailed records of the resident’s medications, note any errors you have observed, and list all communications with nursing home staff.
- Call us at 1.888.536.2426 so we can get to work preserving the facts of the case and working to remedy the situation for your family.
Why Call Lenahan & Dempsey?
Our success in winning Hundreds and Hundreds of Millions for our clients for all types of serious injuries has led to Judges and our peers voting us for inclusion in The Best Law Firms in America, and we are listed as a Tier 1 Law Firm (the highest rating). Eight of our lawyers are listed in Best Lawyers in America and eight are listed as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. Three, including Firm President John Lenahan, Jr., Managing Partner Timothy Lenahan and Attorney Matthew Dempsey are listed in The Top 100 Lawyers in Pennsylvania (out of over 48,000 Pennsylvania lawyers).
Timothy Lenahan is also Best Lawyers in America’s Top Insurance Lawyer for his representation of the injured fighting against large insurers for the region of Northeastern/Central Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains. He has previously been named Best Lawyers Top Personal Injury Lawyer for that region for his work fighting for the rights of injured people. This level of professional recognition is important because just about all Personal Injury cases, including Nursing Home Medication Errors are often highly complicated insurance cases.
What Can You Expect When Working With Lenahan & Dempsey
We have recovered Hundreds and Hundreds of Millions for our clients across almost all fields of Personal Injury, Insurance Bad Faith and Workers’ Compensation law.
We fully understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a case can take on victims and their families. Our highly dedicated team of lawyers and paralegals can point to a history of success supporting our clients and winning the money they need to rebuild their lives.
* Best Lawyers in America and Best Law Firms are trademarks of Woodward White. Super Lawyers and Top 100 Lawyers in Pennsylvania are trademarks of Thompson Reuters. Both trademarks are used with permission. Details on Settlements & Verdicts are found at LenahanDempsey.com. All law firms are required to note that because the facts of each case are different, past performance is not a promise of a future outcome.
