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South Bend Man’s Family Alleges that VA Medication Error Responsible for Death
Indiana Medication Errors
After suffering back pain related to arthritis, Frederick Milewski, a Navy veteran, was treated in August 2011 at a clinic that contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs. A doctor prescribed Oxycodone for the pain. Two weeks later, Milewski, 55, was dead.
The South Bend man's family alleges that the doctor meant to prescribe 15 milligrams of the drug for Milewski to take every four hours. Instead, due to an error, the prescription ordered Milewski to take 50 milligrams every four hours, an intense dose that caused the man's death, a wrongful death lawsuit against the government claims.
The VA blames the error on a transcription blunder and does take responsibility for its wrongful action. April Milewski said the staff members apologized and handed her paperwork to make a federal tort claim for compensation for the error. However, when the Milewski family thought the VA would compensate them for their loss and settle out-of-court, they were wrong.
The VA has decided to fight the claim. Milewski's family has filed suit against the VA and the clinic that treated Mr. Milewski. The case is being fought by both Defendants on grounds that neither defendant will claim the doctor who wrote the prescription is an employee.
Read the full story about the drug script error.
According to a 2006 Institute of Medicine report, medication errors harm an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States every year. implementing a system of double-checking a patient's medication has been shown to detect more than 95 percent of potential medication errors
If you or a loved one have been a victim of a medication error or a medication overdose, call The Sweeney Law Firm now.
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