Anxiety pills caused unexpected thrills

I am a 29-year-old woman, married and living in Arusha. I have been struggling with anxiety, and my doctor prescribed me anti-anxiety medication. The medicine helped calm me down, but it also had an unexpected side effect, which increased my libido. When I mentioned this to my doctor, he suggested I should find ways to ‘balance things out’ with my husband since the medication has now improved my intimate life. Unfortunately, this situation has affected my marriage, as my husband can’t keep up with the side effects, causing serious marital problems. When I sought a second opinion, my new doctor told me that the previous doctor had, in fact, not given me anti-anxiety medication, which is why I was experiencing something else. Now I feel harmed and misled. My question is can I sue my doctor for medical malpractice for giving me the wrong medication?

HJ, Arusha 

This is a critical and sensitive issue. Prescribing any medication must be carefully tailored to a patient’s medical needs, profile, concurrent medications, and the intended therapeutic purpose. If a doctor prescribes medication that is not meant to treat the underlying disease or exceeds accepted medical guidelines and this directly causes harm, it may amount to medical negligence.

To succeed in a malpractice claim, you would need to establish four elements: first, a duty of care, that the doctor owed you a professional duty as your treating physician. Second, breach of duty, to the effect that the prescription deviated from accepted medical standards. Third, causation, to the effect that the medication directly caused you problems. Lastly, the damages you suffered are measurable harm, such as medical costs, pain, or reduced quality of life. Evidence such as medical records, the original prescription, expert testimony, and documentation of your current health issues would be essential. Without this, a claim may not succeed.

The next step is to consult a qualified medical negligence or personal injury lawyer. They can assess whether the prescription was indeed inappropriate, review your medical history, and advise on the strength of your case. Consult an expert lawyer for further guidance.