As Featured In
During a patient’s care, the medical staff should be acutely aware of any allergies that might affect their treatment. Allergies to latex gloves can cause bad reactions and harm the patient’s health, but allergies to drugs and medication can cause serious adverse effects. Administering medication to a patient when the doctor knew or should have known that the patient was allergic can be an instance of serious negligence.
If you or a loved one had an allergic reaction to their medication, talk to the Dallas allergic reaction to medication attorneys at The Queenan Law Firm. Our lawyers can help you understand if you have a case and help you calculate the damages you are owed and explore your options for filing a claim. For a free legal consultation on your case, call our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.
When You Can Sue for Allergic Reactions to Medication in Texas
When a doctor prescribes medication, they should consider the many dimensions of how it will affect the patient. Many drugs may serve the same purposes. For example, there are dozens of popular drugs to lower blood pressure or cholesterol, but doctors may choose to prescribe different drugs for different patients based on the type of drug used, the potential side effects, the patient’s age, and other factors. One factor they should always consider, though, is drug allergies.
Most allergies to drugs are allergies to common drugs such as penicillin or other antibiotics. Unfortunately for many, the first time they discover a drug allergy may be when they need it to treat illness. With common drugs like antibiotics, doctors may prescribe the drug with no second thought that the patient might have an allergy, and this may not always cause the doctor to be at fault for the injuries and negative health conditions. However, when the doctor knows that the drug has a high risk of allergies or that the patient is sensitive to similar drugs, the doctor may be required to have the patient tested for allergies before prescribing the drug or have the patient take the drug in a safe, hospital environment to watch for potentially dangerous side effects.
If you have already had one bad reaction to a drug, it may be inexcusable for your doctor to prescribe the drug to you again. Most patients have no medical training of their own, and they instead rely on the doctor’s judgment when taking medication. You may not remember the name of the drugs you are allergic to, so you might not recognize the name when a doctor prescribes it. This is even more true if the last time you had a reaction to the drug was as a child when you wouldn’t be expected to know the name of the drug. However, your allergy should be noted in your medical records and patient chart, and your doctor should always reference that before prescribing a drug. Because of this, it is typically negligent for a doctor to administer a drug you have a known allergy to.
One instance where allergic reactions to drugs are common is in an emergency room or trauma setting. The doctor treating you at the ER or trauma department is typically not your regular doctor. If your condition is severe and you need treatment immediately, your doctor may not even have access to your chart or medical records before treating you. Unfortunately for many, this is when they receive doses of drugs they are allergic to. In some of these instances, the doctor’s failure to access your chart or ask you about drug allergies might be considered negligence, but it is up to the specific facts of the case.
Other situations where you receive negligent medical care or dangerous prescriptions might also entitle you to sue the doctor who treated you.
Damages for Drug Allergy Malpractice Cases
If your doctor or the hospital staff treating you administers a drug that they should have known you were allergic to, you could face dangerous health effects. Anaphylaxis, inability to breath, hives, rashes, and even shock or seizures are common effects of allergic reactions to drugs. Many of these reactions have secondary effects including neurological damage, liver damage, heart damage, or lung damage which could have lasting effects on your health. In many instances of allergic reactions to prescription medication, you may be entitled to sue your doctor for the damages you face from the reaction.
If your allergic reaction caused you to need additional healthcare or to take time off work, you may be entitled to compensation for these financial harms. This should include the full value of any monetary harm you suffered because of the allergic reaction. In addition, you may be able to sue for the pain and suffering you faced because of the reaction. Serious allergic reactions can be life-threatening, painful, and terrifying. The compensation you claim in a lawsuit can pay you back for this pain and suffering directly even though the amounts you claim cannot be proven through financial records or bank statements.
Call Our Prescription Medication Allergic Reaction Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one suffered a severe allergic reaction to your medication and suffered adverse health effects or conditions because of it, contact the Dallas allergic reaction to medication attorneys at The Queenan Law Firm. Our medical malpractice and dangerous prescription injury lawyers offer free legal consultations to help people understand their potential claims. For a free consultation on your case, call our attorneys today at (817) 476-1797.