Medication should make you better, not worse. But in some cases, the wrong prescription, the wrong dose, or the wrong instructions can lead to serious complications. If this has happened to you or someone you care about, you are not alone and you are right to ask questions.
Medication should make you better, not worse. But in some cases, the wrong prescription, the wrong dose, or the wrong instructions can lead to serious complications. If this has happened to you or someone you care about, you are not alone and you are right to ask questions.
We’ve worked with clients across Clare and the wider region who trusted their prescription was correct, only to suffer avoidable harm. Some were given the wrong medication by a pharmacist. Others were prescribed the wrong drug in hospital or at their GP clinic. In many cases, the side effects were not just uncomfortable they were dangerous.
These mistakes are not always noticed straight away. They may become clear only after an illness worsens, new symptoms appear, or a second opinion reveals what went wrong. Whether the issue happened at the chemist, on a hospital ward, or at a routine check-up, we can help you understand what happened and whether it was legally negligent.
At Crimmins Howard, we listen first. Then we explain your options clearly. If the care you received fell below the standard expected and it caused you harm, we will help you hold the right people accountable.
If you’ve been affected by a medication or pharmacy error, contact Crimmins Howard today. We’ll review your case, explain your rights, and help you move forward.
Medication and pharmacy errors happen when something goes wrong during the prescribing, dispensing, or administration of medicine. This can include being given the wrong drug, the wrong strength, the wrong dose, or drugs that should not be taken together. These mistakes can happen in hospitals, GP clinics, pharmacies or nursing homes. When they cause serious illness, injury or worsening of an existing condition, and could have been avoided, the error may be grounds for a medical negligence claim.
These claims involve general mistakes in how a medication was selected, prescribed, or monitored. We have represented clients who were given a drug unsuitable for their condition, or who experienced serious reactions because no one double-checked the appropriateness of the medication. These errors are often the result of rushed decision-making or failure to consult medical records before prescribing or administering treatment.
Prescription errors occur when a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional writes the wrong medication or fails to include essential information such as dosage or instructions. These cases may involve prescribing a medication that should never have been given, or omitting a necessary one. If the prescription is unclear or illegible, and this leads to harm, responsibility may lie with the original prescriber.
Dispensing errors usually happen at the pharmacy. These may include giving a patient the wrong drug entirely, a different dosage strength, or another person’s prescription. In some cases, the label on the bottle is correct, but the medication inside is not. We have acted in claims where this led to allergic reactions, serious side effects, and deterioration of health conditions that were meant to be managed.
These claims often arise in hospitals or care facilities, where staff are responsible for administering medication. Giving too much or too little of a prescribed drug can have dangerous consequences. We have handled cases where errors in drip rates, injection doses or scheduled timing led to seizures, blood pressure crashes, or organ damage. Proper protocols should always be followed to avoid these outcomes.
Some medications cannot be safely taken together. Healthcare professionals are expected to review a patient’s full medication list and ensure new prescriptions will not cause adverse interactions. When this is not done, patients may suffer serious side effects including internal bleeding, cardiac complications or organ failure. We act in cases where proper medication checks were skipped and the result was entirely preventable.
Before prescribing or dispensing any medication, a full review of the patient’s history should take place. This includes allergies, past reactions, and current medications. We have seen harm occur when these checks were skipped especially in emergency settings or during transitions between care teams. These errors often stem from poor record-keeping, rushed decisions, or system failures within the hospital or clinic.
Some of the most serious medication claims we handle involve pharmacy overdoses. This may involve receiving the correct drug but in a dangerously high strength, or unclear instructions that lead to accidental overdose. Patients have ended up in hospital or worse due to preventable errors in labelling or preparation. Pharmacies have a legal duty to ensure all medication is safe, appropriate and clearly explained.
Not every medication mistake is grounds for a legal claim. In order for a medication or pharmacy error to be actionable under Irish law, it must meet two key conditions: the care provided must have fallen below the accepted standard, and that failure must have caused avoidable harm.
At Crimmins Howard, we investigate both aspects thoroughly before advising you to proceed. If we believe the evidence supports a claim, we will explain your legal options in full.
A breach of duty occurs when a doctor, pharmacist, nurse or other medical professional fails to act in the way a competent professional in their position should have. In the context of medication and pharmacy claims, this can include:
These are not just small mistakes. When they result in illness, injury, or deterioration in health, they may be legally actionable.
Even when a breach of duty is clear, it must also be shown that the error caused you harm that would not have occurred otherwise. This is called causation.
For example, if you were given the wrong medication but caught the mistake before taking it, you likely do not have a claim. However, if you took the medication and suffered a seizure, allergic reaction, or relapse of your condition, then the harm may be significant enough to warrant a case.
We look at:
Actionable claims can arise from a wide range of settings, including:
Whether the mistake happened during an emergency, a routine prescription renewal, or while collecting medicine from your local chemist, what matters is whether safe, professional standards were followed and what happened when they weren’t.
If you believe you’ve been harmed by a prescription or pharmacy mistake, it’s important to act quickly. Seek medical attention if you haven’t already. Where possible, keep hold of any packaging, prescriptions, or labels. Make a note of what happened and when, and contact us as soon as you’re ready. We will listen to your concerns, review the facts, and help you determine whether a claim is appropriate.
In many medication claims, the key isn’t when the harm happened it’s when it could have been prevented. At Crimmins Howard, we are skilled at identifying that exact point. Whether it was a missed allergy warning, a dosage instruction that wasn’t double-checked, or a failure to catch a harmful drug interaction, we locate the decision that turned a risk into a real injury. That is where your case begins.
Medication and pharmacy claims often involve detailed records, but what’s written down is not always the full story. We look beyond the label, the pharmacy sticker, or the GP’s prescription slip. We compare what was prescribed with what was dispensed. We question whether proper instructions were given or whether assumptions were made. In a system where paperwork can be mistaken for proof, we test the evidence.
Some of the most serious injuries arise from widely used medications. We’ve handled cases involving antibiotics, blood thinners, painkillers and antidepressants drugs given every day, yet dangerous in the wrong dose or the wrong combination. These claims are not about rare mistakes. They’re about routine drugs used carelessly. We know how to show when something familiar was handled without due care.
Many clients come to us after being told they’re overreacting. They felt unwell after starting medication, reported unusual symptoms, or questioned the instructions they were given but no one took them seriously. At Crimmins Howard, we listen. If your concerns were dismissed and the result was preventable harm, we build your case around that breakdown in professional responsibility.
Medication safety depends on more than one person. We look at the full chain: who prescribed it, who filled it, and who gave instructions. If a GP failed to review your medication history, if a pharmacist dispensed the wrong strength, or if a nurse administered a dose at the wrong time, we identify each point of liability. These are not one-person mistakes. We make sure the full picture is addressed.
We regularly act for older adults who were harmed by dosage errors, harmful combinations, or lack of review. Many are on multiple prescriptions, and we know how dangerous small oversights can become when no one steps back to assess the full list. We also act for carers and family members who were never properly informed of the risks.
We are a selective legal practice based in Clare, acting for clients across the west of Ireland. When we take on a medication or pharmacy error claim, it’s because we believe the harm was real, the mistake avoidable, and the case worth fighting. We work with experienced medical experts, guide you through every step, and deliver our advice in plain terms.
If you believe a medication mistake caused you harm, Crimmins Howard will help you find out what happened and take the next step forward.
Some signs include unexpected side effects, allergic reactions, feeling worse after starting a new medication, or noticing that the medicine you were given looks or is labelled differently than usual. If something feels off, it’s worth investigating further.
Yes. Pharmacists are held to a high professional standard. If you were given the wrong drug, incorrect instructions, or someone else’s prescription, and this caused you harm, you may be able to bring a claim for pharmacy negligence.
If your allergy was clearly documented in your medical or pharmacy records, and you were still prescribed or given that drug, the mistake may be negligent. If the reaction caused serious illness or required treatment, it could be actionable.
No. These errors can happen anywhere medications are prescribed or dispensed GP clinics, pharmacies, nursing homes, and even at home under the supervision of a visiting nurse. We act in claims from all of these settings.
Yes. Doctors and pharmacists are expected to check for harmful interactions between new and existing medications. If this wasn’t done and you suffered an adverse reaction, the failure may be considered negligent.
We work with independent medical experts to review your records and assess whether the harm was avoidable. They help us show how your condition changed because of the error, not due to an underlying illness or unrelated factor.
Yes. If your child, elderly relative, or someone in your care was harmed by a medication error, you may be able to bring a claim on their behalf. This is especially important if they were unable to speak for themselves or did not understand what happened.
Keep any boxes, bottles, leaflets, or receipts related to the medication. If you were given incorrect advice, write down what was said and by whom. If you became unwell, take note of symptoms, medical appointments, and hospital stays. We can request full records on your behalf as part of the process.
The general rule in Ireland is that you have two years from the date you became aware of the harm. If you only recently discovered the mistake, you may still be within time. We can advise you based on your specific timeline.
That is very common. Many clients contact us because they feel they were brushed off or left without answers. Whether or not the doctor or pharmacist accepted responsibility, we investigate the facts. If the care fell short and caused harm, a claim may still be possible.
If you’ve been harmed because of a medication or pharmacy mistake, you are entitled to answers. Crimmins Howard will listen to your concerns, review the facts, and help you take the next step with clear advice and full support. Contact us today to find out where you stand.
