December 13, 2016
What is a medication error?
Medication errors are a type of medical malpractice that can occur as a result of a pharmacist’s or a physician’s mistake.
Examples of medication errors include overdoses, underdoses, medication mix-ups with other patients and taking medications that interact dangerously with other medications.
Whatever the reason for the medication error, seek legal help from a St. Louis medical malpractice attorney when serious injury or death results.
Do doctors or pharmacist’s often commit medication errors?
Unfortunately, medication errors are fairly common.
The National Patient Safety Foundation reported statistics from the Institute of Medicine, which estimated 1.5 million Americans every year are subject to medication errors.
Other errors may involve taking medications the wrong way, such as a liquid instead of tablets or at the wrong times, such as morning instead of bedtime.
How do I prevent medication errors?
There are actions you can take to support pharmacists and doctors regarding your medications, including:
1. Let your doctors know about all of the over-the-counter drugs you take, including vitamins and herbal remedies.
2. You can ensure you have enough refills, so you do not run out of medications and call in for refills ahead of time.
3.When you pick up your medications, you can double-check to ensure the bottle has the correct drug name on it.
4. For liquid medications, learn to recognize the scent and notice when the scent is not the same.
Confirm your dosages and compare your physician’s instructions with the instructions on the pharmacy label.
5. Become familiar with the generic names and brand names for the same medication.
Be aware of the potential side effects and consult your physician right away if you experience side effects or any ill effects from the medication.
What should I do if there has been a medication error?
See a doctor.
If you think your medication or the dosage of the medicine you have be prescribed is wrong, contact your doctor or pharmacist right away.
This may be the last thing you want to do if you have been given the wrong prescription or dosage by a doctor, but they can help.
For the most part, doctors are there to help.
Once you have talked with a doctor the next steps are up to you.
Our advice is to see a medical malpractice attorney to find out your options.
If you were made ill, a loved one has been killed, or you original illness worsened because of a doctor’s negligence, you deserve compensation from either the doctor, a nurse, a hospital, or a pharmacy.