Evaluation of Medical Practice Allegation Cases Within the Scope of Pharmacy Services and Applications

Medical errors in pharmacy settings represent a significant patient safety concern worldwide. This study aimed to analyze allegations of medical practice errors related to pharmacy services evaluated by the Council of Forensic Medicine of Turkiye. We retrospectively reviewed all cases submitted between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2023. Cases were analyzed for demographic characteristics, error types, harm outcomes, and associated factors. A total of 106 cases were evaluated (mean age: 23.8 years; males: 51.9%). Medical practice errors were confirmed in 86.8% of cases. The most common error type was wrong medication dispensing (34.6%), followed by unauthorized procedures (21.8%). Immediate harm occurred in 67.9% of cases, including severe harm in 30.5% and death in 15.3% of harmed cases. Auxiliary pharmacy personnel were involved in 73.6% of allegations. Pharmacy-related medical errors—particularly dispensing errors—pose significant risks to patient safety and may lead to serious clinical and medico-legal consequences. Strengthened supervision, targeted training, and system-based safety measures (e.g., verification procedures) are essential to reduce preventable harm.