What a pharmacy review usually focuses on

Dispensing, interactions, dosage, and labeling. A case review should reconstruct the sequence of prescription interpretation, dispensing, allergy/interactions, labeling, and counseling from the records available at each decision point.

Five decision points to map

  • 1. Prescription interpretation
  • 2. Dispensing
  • 3. Allergy/interactions
  • 4. Labeling
  • 5. Counseling

Records that can answer those questions

  • Pharmacy consultation, procedure, or encounter notes
  • Orders and test results used to make the clinical decision
  • Medication, monitoring, procedure, or nursing records tied to the event
  • Communication with the patient and other specialties
  • Later treatment showing the complication, corrected diagnosis, or outcome

Expert and causation questions

  • What training and specialty should the reviewing pharmacy expert have under state law?
  • Which of the key decision points in dispensing, interactions, dosage, and labeling is actually being challenged?
  • What information was available at that time, not only in hindsight?
  • What part of the later harm is attributable to the underlying illness or known risk?
  • Would a different medical decision probably have changed treatment or outcome?

Related specialties

Radiology Malpractice GuideRadiology malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Surgery Malpractice GuideSurgery malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Primary Care Malpractice GuidePrimary Care malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Urgent Care Malpractice GuideUrgent Care malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.

Use licensing, records, and medical-information sources appropriate to the specialty.