Medication Errors

Medication errors can occur in any medical environment at any stage of the medical treatment process. According to reports, approximately 1.3 million people suffer personal injury every year from medication errors.

Medication Errors Are Preventable

Medication mistakes are preventable. Many cases are the result of sloppy note taking, illegible handwriting, similar packaging, administering too high or too low a dose, giving a patient the wrong medication, or not administering medication at all when needed. In other cases, drugs may be prescribed to patients who are already taking a medication that when taken together has fatal interactions.

When a patient is made ill or is killed as a result of a medication error, the person responsible should be held accountable. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews reports involving medication errors from drug manufacturers and through they agency’s adverse event reporting program, MedWatch.

Common Types of Medication Errors

It has been reported that people over the age of 60 are at the highest risk of suffering from medication errors. This is mainly because older people tend to take more medications than younger people. Some of the most common causes leading to medication mistakes include:

  • Administering the wrong dose of a medication
  • Giving a patient the wrong type of medication
  • Mixing medications that interact dangerously with each other

Preventing Medication Errors

If you or a loved one is prescribed a new medicine, it is important to find out as much information as you can about the medication before use. Be sure to find out the proper dose and potential health risks. Also, be sure to provide your doctor with a complete list of medications you are currently taking to prevent harmful drug interactions.

Make sure to tell your doctor about the non-prescription drugs and/or supplements you are taking as well. When you pick up the prescription from the pharmacy, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Check the label to make sure the name is correct and the dosage information matches what your doctor and/or pharmacists says.

Talk to a Connecticut Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you believe that you have been harmed by a medication error, you should speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer about your legal rights. The Connecticut medical malpractice lawyers at The Berkowitz Law Firm are experienced in handling injury and wrongful death cases involving medical negligence and malpractice such as prescription mistakes.

To schedule a case evaluation with a qualified and committed medication errors attorney in Connecticut, contact The Berkowitz Law Firm today.

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