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Further Services In This Section

Prescription Error Claims, Medication Error Compensation & Claims Against Drug Companies

Prescribed drug injury claims

For thousands of people throughout the UK, their GP is their first port of call when they begin to feel unwell. In many cases, their GP will write a prescription for medication in an attempt to improve or resolve the symptoms of their patients. Sadly, for some the prescribed drug can have an adverse effect. Instead of helping the problem, the medication can actually lead to further complications, causing undesirable side effects; and in rare cases even result in death, depending on the drug and how long it is taken for.

According to the UK’s drugs and pharmaceutical product regulation authority, the Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency, (MHRA), around 40,000 medical prescription and dispensation errors occur annually. In addition, a fifth of these mistakes result in substantial harm to the affected patients.

It is thought that around 5% of these errors result in serious harm and even death in the most severe cases. Whilst it’s worth remembering that the majority of pharmaceutical products registered by the MHRA are completely safe, some of the approved medication may later be found to be damaging to the long-term health of the patients for whom they were intended to help.

The outcome for some individuals who have taken these drugs and developed harmful side effects have in certain cases proved to be devastating, leaving the patients with life-long mental or physical problems. While the manufacturers of these pharmaceutical products and doctors now acknowledge that a drug may not be suitable,  for those individuals who were prescribed it, the change of position may have come far too late for the victims and their families.

Prescribing and dispensing errors

In addition to negligence on the part of drug manufacturers, prescribing and dispensing errors have also led to adverse side effects in a patient’s health. Examples of these include a doctor incorrectly writing up the dose of the drug, which in extreme circumstances can lead to the patient accidentally taking an overdose.

Errors have also been made when prescribing medication to children and they have mistakenly been prescribed an adult dose. GPs sometimes prescribe drugs repeatedly for many years without assessing whether a repeat prescription is appropriate for the patient. This can potentially lead to physical injury from chronic overdose or addiction to certain medications, such as sleeping tablets.

Dispensing errors are different as they commonly occur at the pharmacy. This could be due to the doctor misspelling the name of the drug, or, something as simple as the pharmacist picking the wrong medication from the shelf. As a result, the patient may not receive the correct treatment for their condition which could then worsen, or they might take a drug that has an adverse reaction.

In any of these circumstances, this is not the fault of the patient and as a result, they may have a strong case for claiming compensation on the grounds of medical negligence. At Lanyon Bowdler, we have secured considerable compensation fees for victims of medical negligence. As specialists in this area of law, we possess the knowledge and expertise to pursue your case against the prescriber, dispenser or both securing the best possible outcome for you.

Pursuing a medical negligence claim

Whatever problem you’ve encountered regarding errors relating to pharmaceutical drugs, we’re here to help you in every way we can. Our expert team of medical negligence lawyers will thoroughly assess your case and offer practical advice whilst guiding you through the complaints and compensation claims process. Based on the hardship and impediment you have suffered; we will assist you in pursuing your claim for compensation that reflects the severity of your problems.

You may have had to take time off work leading to a loss of earnings. You may have developed a life-threatening or debilitating condition that has caused a great deal of suffering requiring care and assistance and subsequently has led to further medical costs. In either case, as a victim of somebody else’s clinical negligence, we will endeavour to secure you the maximum amount of compensation with the minimum outlay for legal costs.

As every case is different, we’ll tailor our advice towards your individual circumstances. We offer various forms of funding such as conditional fee agreements. You don’t have to suffer in silence or go through this on your own, which is why a member of our team will do everything within their power to ensure you achieve the best possible outcome.

The Legal 500 & Chambers UK Recommendations

The Medical Negligence Team is recognised in Tier One for the West Midlands in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500, which states 'The highly experienced team has substantial expertise in a variety of catastrophic injury cases, also including amputations and fatal claims, and continues its key engagement in a large number of birth injury cases involving the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS trusts.' A testimonial reads: 'This is a very talented team that punches well above its weight in the market. Although it is a regional firm, its work is high quality and on a par with major London players.' 

Chambers UK 2023 rank the department in Band One and state 'an impressive practice group with a growing presence across the West Midlands. The team offers specialist advice across the full gamut of clinical negligence mandates, with particular experience in cases of surgical error, delayed diagnosis and failure to supervise those at risk of suicide. The firm is additionally skilled in cases relating to post-surgical negligence, brain injury and fatal claims.'

Lanyon Bowdler Clinical Negligence Team Win 'Team of the Year' in Personal Injury Awards 2018

Lanyon Bowdler won the Clinical Negligence Team of the Year title at the Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards in Manchester, beating off competition from across the UK.

Kay Kelly, former head and now consultant for the team, said: “This is absolutely wonderful news and is a fitting tribute to the expertise and dedication of our clinical negligence lawyers.

“Clinical negligence is a particularly sensitive area of law which makes a tremendous difference to people’s lives. A successful claim can be vital for the person’s recovery and future quality of life, so to be recognised as being the best team in the country for our work means a great deal.”

 

 

The team is both proud and delighted to have won this award. The winning video submission can be viewed below.

 

 

You can view the highlights from The Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards 2018 here.

 

Contact Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors

If you suspect that you may be the victim of a prescribed drug injury, give us a call or complete our online enquiry form, to see how we can help. There is no obligation you or any charges for our initial assessment. 

By choosing Lanyon Bowdler for any form of serious injury claim or clinical negligence claim, you can rest assured that you have the best legal expertise on your team. Lanyon Bowdler's Medical Negligence team is widely acclaimed and recognised as one of the best clinical negligence departments in the country. We are committed to providing exceptional levels of client care and will work closely and considerately with you to help find the best outcomes and help to get your life back on track.

We have offices in Shrewsbury, Bromyard, Conwy, Hereford, Ludlow, Oswestry, and Telford, so are able to act for clients throughout Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales and across the Midlands (including Wolverhampton & Birmingham). As a leading UK full-service law firm, we can represent you wherever you live in England, Northern Ireland and Wales

Testimonials

Professional and Organised. My experience of Lanyon Bowdler has been extremely favourable. The solicitors and their secretaries are professional, discreet, friendly and explain everything. They handled my claim with the upmost professionalism and respect and worked hard to gain the best result possible.  

- Lorna, via Review Solicitors

I was very happy that I used Lanyon Bowdler.

- Mr Richard A Cave, Wrexham

Attention to detail at all times, all business carried out directly with one solicitor.

- Mr Ian H Jones, Flint

A complete honest and friendly service from start to finish. Thank you very much. 

- Mr William Peace & Richard Peace, Ludlow

Professional and caring towards clients.

- Mr Nicky John Mullis & Mrs Alison Jane Miles, Shrewsbury

Professional, clear on expectations, prompt on responding to my questions and queries. All paperwork sent promptly and clearly marked when you required my response. 

- Miss Nicola Georgina Foster

Every step of the way you have cared, you have listened, you have supported and you have fought for us. And you have done all this in the most professional and dignified manner. 

- Mr & Mrs XB

'You really cared and wanted the best possible outcome for our son'

- Mr & Mrs Abernethy, Cheshire

Case Studies

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