Last updated 10th June 2025. This guide will explore how to claim compensation for prescription errors, examples of which include prescribing allergens or incorrect doses. This article will look at the different types of prescription errors, how they could affect you, and when you might be able to claim compensation.
Prescription errors that cause harm can be classed as medical negligence. This is when a medical professional breaches their duty to provide a minimum standard of care and you are harmed in the process. This guide will provide helpful advice on your options should you ever experience medical negligence.
Continue reading if you would like to learn more about examples of prescription errors. You can also get in touch with us directly at any time. Our team of advisors can offer free advice. They can also connect you to a specialist medical negligence solicitor, who could help you start your claim. Contact us if you have questions on personal injury claims or medical negligence claims:
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online.
- Message our online claims advisor below.
Select A Section
- Prescription Errors: Examples Of Omissions Or Delays
- Prescribing A Known Allergen
- Examples Of Prescription Errors: Medication And Drug Interactions
- What Could You Claim For These Examples Of Prescription Errors?
- How Do I Prove A Prescription Error?
- What Is No Win No Fee?
Prescription Errors: Examples Of Omissions Or Delays
This section looks at what omission or delay prescription errors are and how they could occur. If a medical professional omits or delays a prescription, it could cause serious harm to the patient.
For example, if a patient was discharged from the hospital after surgery, they may require a certain medication for their continued recovery. Not providing this necessary prescription could disrupt the patient’s rehabilitation. If this medication was not prescribed due to substandard healthcare practices, this could be medical negligence.
Some medications also need to be taken at certain time intervals or points in the day. If this does not happen, the medication could have no effect on the patient, meaning their condition continues to worsen. Should a medical professional be required to administer the medication but fails to due to providing substandard care, this would be medical negligence.
If medical negligence leads to your undue suffering, you could make a claim.
Prescribing A Known Allergen
Sometimes, people could be allergic to certain medications or components of the medication. However, you would not be able to claim if you had an allergic reaction to something your doctor was unaware you were allergic to.
However, if you have an allergen on your medical record and a medical professional prescribes it anyway, this could be medical negligence. You could have an allergic reaction and come to harm.
For example, you may be allergic to penicillin. This may be noted on your medical record, but your GP still prescribes penicillin. Therefore, you could potentially have an allergic reaction that leads to further harm than your original injury or illness.
How Serious Could Allergic Reactions Be?
Allergic reactions can vary in severity, as it may depend on the person and the substance to which they are allergic. According to the NHS, most allergic reactions are mild, and symptoms may include:
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Blocked or runny nose
- Red and itchy rash
- Wheezing and coughing
- Sneezing
However, some people may suffer from a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms may include:
- Breathing difficulties
- Clammy skin
- Confusion and anxiety
- Collapsing or losing consciousness
- Feeling faint
- Hives
- Sickness
If being prescribed a known allergen has caused you harm, get in touch to find out more about starting a claim.
Examples Of Prescription Errors: Medication And Drug Interactions
If you are prescribed more than one medication, you could be at risk of a drug interaction. This is when medications react badly to each other, leading to unexpected side effects. The more medication you are prescribed, the more you could potentially be at risk of a drug interaction.
A drug interaction could make your medication less effective or cause serious side effects.
How Could Drug Interactions Harm People?
A drug interaction could decrease the efficiency of your medication. If this happens, it could lead to your pre-existing condition worsening when the medication should have been improving symptoms. It is important to note that you can only claim for the portion of harm caused by medical negligence and not your original illness or injury.
Some medication interactions could even have serious side effects. For example, one or more of the drugs could become more toxic to you as your blood levels increase.
What Could You Claim For These Prescription Errors Examples?
This section includes a table of potential compensation amounts that you could receive as a general damages payout if you are harmed by medical negligence. General damages is the element of your compensation that covers the physical and mental suffering caused by medical negligence.
You would also attend a medical appointment so that a medical professional can evaluate the severity of your injuries and how they may continue to affect you. This would be key evidence for general damages.
| Injury | Severity | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries plus Special Damages | Very Severe | Up to £1,000,000 or more |
| Paralysis | Tetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia) | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 | |
| Injuries Affecting Sight | Total Blindness | In the region of £327,940 |
| Kidney | Serious and permanent damage to both kidneys (a) | £206,730 to £256,780 |
| Bladder | Double incontinence | Up to £224,790 |
| Deafness and Tinnitus | Total Deafness | £110,750 to £133,810 |
| Impairment of Taste and Smell | Loss of Smell | £30,500 to £40,150 |
| Loss of Taste | £23,430 to £30,500 | |
| Spleen | Immune system affected | £25,380 to £32,090 |
Injuries from medical negligence can also lead to financial losses. You can claim any financial losses back as special damages if you can prove they were part of negligence in question. For example, you could claim back any related travel expenses if you provide receipts for petrol and appointment letters for the same day.
You can also claim for future losses, such as a continued loss of earnings if you need to take time away from work to recover.
For our advisors to value your claim for free, why not get in touch?
How Do I Prove A Prescription Error?
It is important to prove a prescription error by collecting evidence. The documentary proof will help to support your medication error claim. Here are some examples of the evidence you could collect:
- Medical records, such as prescriptions, X-rays and GP notes.
- Contact details of the person who accompanied you to the hospital: This would help to prepare a witness statement at a later stage.
- Photographs of any rashes or scars due to allergies or other effects.
- Personal written records, such as diary entries.
- The packaging of the wrongly prescribed medication.
- Financial records, such as bank statements and invoices for special damages.
- Employment records to illustrate any loss of earnings due to time taken off from work.
- Copies of correspondence with the hospital or your doctor.
- Psychiatric records to demonstrate the psychological impact.
- Cost of aids, such as inhalers and nebulisers.
We can understand that collecting evidence is a time-consuming and overwhelming process. However, one of our expert medical neglgience solicitors could help you with gathering this.
Call our advisors now for more prescription errors examples and the type of evidence each kind would require.
Get A No Win No Fee Assessment Of Prescription Errors Examples Claims
If you’re considering hiring legal representation, you should know there are ways to fund a solicitor’s work. Our solicitors offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis. What could this mean for you?
- You don’t need to pay anything towards the solicitor’s fee before or during your claim.
- Your solicitor only deducts a success fee if you receive compensation.
- You don’t pay for your solicitor’s services if they are unsuccessful.
If you think a No Win No Fee agreement could be for you, contact our team of advisors today. They can offer free guidance about your claim and could connect you with a solicitor.
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online.
- Message our online claims advisor below
References On Examples Of Prescription Errors
Thank you for reading our guide on examples of prescription errors. We hope it was useful. For further related references, please see below.
- Dispensing Error Claims – Our article explains your rights if you’ve been prescribed the wrong medication.
- Hospital Wrong Medication Negligence – If you’ve been given the wrong medication in a hospital, find out how you could claim.
- NHS Resolution – This is the NHS’s legal branch that handles negligence claims.
- Allergy UK – This registered charity aims to support those living with allergies.
Thank you for reading our guide about examples of prescription errors.
