Medication Errors and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
When a Preventable Reaction Becomes a Life-Altering Injury
Medications are meant to heal. But when they are prescribed or administered incorrectly, the results can be catastrophic. The human body reacts to drugs in complex ways, and even a small mistake can set off a chain reaction with devastating consequences. While many drug reactions are mild and transient, some can cause permanent injury or even death. One of the most severe—and tragically preventable—reactions is a condition called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS).
At Lupetin & Unatin, LLC, we help individuals and families determine whether a medication error caused a life-threatening drug reaction, and whether it could—and should—have been prevented.
What Is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare but serious disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. It often begins with flu-like symptoms and rapidly progresses to a painful red or purplish rash that blisters, peels, and causes layers of skin to die and slough off. SJS can affect the eyes, mouth, airway, genitals, and internal organs. In its more severe form—Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)—the condition can be fatal.
Patients with SJS frequently require hospitalization in intensive care or burn units. Survivors may suffer long-term complications, including:
- Chronic eye damage or blindness
- Severe scarring
- Respiratory damage
- Organ failure
- Lasting pain and disability
What Causes Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?
In most cases, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is triggered by a reaction to medication. Some of the most commonly implicated drugs include:
- Sulfa antibiotics (e.g., Bactrim)
- Antiepileptics (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., piroxicam, ibuprofen)
- Allopurinol (used for gout)
In some cases, infections like Mycoplasma pneumoniae or herpes simplex virus may cause SJS, particularly in children. However, the majority of adult cases are medication-induced.
Is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Always Caused by Medical Malpractice?
Not necessarily. Not every case of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is the result of negligence. Some patients may have rare, unpredictable drug sensitivities. However, many cases are preventable and arise from avoidable medication errors, such as:
- Prescribing a drug that the patient has a known allergy to
- Failing to review the patient’s history or drug profile
- Giving an incorrect dose
- Prescribing a high-risk medication without appropriate patient education or monitoring
- Combining drugs known to increase the risk of SJS
In such cases, a careful review of the medical records may reveal that the standard of care was breached, and that the resulting injury was both foreseeable and preventable.
How Medication Errors Cause Preventable Harm
Medication errors can occur at any stage of care—from a physician’s prescription to a nurse’s administration. Common examples of errors that may lead to SJS include:
- Failure to recognize and document prior drug reactions
- Re-prescribing medications contraindicated by known allergies
- Prescribing high-risk medications (e.g., allopurinol, lamotrigine) to genetically susceptible patients without appropriate testing or caution
- Miscommunication during transitions of care
These are not just technical errors. They are breakdowns in basic patient safety protocols, and they often result in catastrophic outcomes.
When Can a Lawsuit Be Filed for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?
If a patient develops SJS as a result of a medication that was improperly prescribed, administered, or continued, and suffers severe and permanent injuries, a medical malpractice claim may be appropriate.
At Lupetin & Unatin, our attorneys work closely with leading experts in pharmacology, internal medicine, dermatology, and hospital safety to identify whether SJS resulted from a preventable medication error. We carefully analyze:
- Medication lists
- Allergy records
- Physician notes and electronic health records
- Nursing documentation
- Discharge summaries and pharmacy logs
Our firm’s goal is to uncover whether you or your loved one were harmed by a failure to follow basic safety standards—and if so, to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Real Case Results: Jury Verdicts and Settlements for SJS Victims
Below are examples of published legal outcomes where patients received compensation after developing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome due to medical negligence:
- $11.9 Million Verdict (Massachusetts) – Excessive Dosage of Medication – A child with epilepsy was prescribed an adult dosage of an anti-seizure medication, resulting in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome which left her with disfigurement and partial vision loss.
- $6 Million Settlement – Failure to Diagnose (Illinois) – A 52-year-old man died after doctors failed to diagnose his allergic reaction to Septra, leading to SJS/TEN. The family received a $6 million settlement for the medical malpractice.
- $1.94 Million Settlement – Medication Error Leading to SJS (New Jersey) – A family received a $1.94 million settlement after their child died from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome caused by an off-label prescription of Lamictal. The lawsuit alleged that the prescribing psychiatrist was negligent.
Note: Verdicts and settlements reflect the facts of individual cases and do not guarantee future outcomes.
Contact Lupetin & Unatin: Trusted Advocates for Preventable Drug Reactions
If you or someone you love developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome after a medication error, you may be entitled to justice and compensation. At Lupetin & Unatin, LLC, we have the medical knowledge, legal expertise, and commitment to uncover the truth.
This life-changing injury may have been preventable. Let us help you find out.
Call us today at (412) 281-4100 or contact us for a free case evaluation.