Though medication errors are avoidable, they are difficult for us to avoid becoming victimized by them.
The Institute of Medicine estimates that there are at least 1.5 million preventable injuries and deaths a year from prescription drug errors.
Types of Medication Errors
The most common types of medical errors are:
- Incorrect dosage.
- Bad drug interactions among different drugs prescribed.
- Allergies to a particular class of drugs.
- Mixing up names of medicines prescribed, such as Fosomax vs. Flomax or Celebrex vs. Cerebyx.
- Bad handwriting by doctors.
- Bad phone calls by doctors or medical staff to the pharmacy.
- Mistakes in abbreviations used.
- Fragmentation of care among different doctors.
- Medicines prescribed for a treatment they are not approved for.
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Communication problems among medical staff.
Who is Responsible for Prescription Drug Errors:
Research shows that the greatest risk of medication errors comes from doctors rather than pharmacists.
But errors can be made by any medical professional, including nurses, who is responsible for your medication.
Medication errors happen in:
- Hospitals
- Dispensaries by pharmacists.
- Out-patient clinics.
- Pharmacies.
- Nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
-
Doctors' offices.
High-Risks for Medication Errors
Children and infants are particularly at risk for being victimized by drug errors. This is mainly due to incorrect calculations of dosages to adjust to children's and infants' weight.
Research shows that patients are at high-risk in:
- Intensive care units.
- Chemotherapy out-patient clinics.
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Nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
A Specialized Medical Background
Bill Newkirk of the Law Offices of William H. Newkirk has more than 25 years of experience as a personal injury attorney.
Prior to law school, he worked in the pharmacology industry. As a leading medical malpractice attorney, Bill Newkirk has a deep understanding of medical issues.
Bill Newkirk's success for his clients comes from a deep understanding of the law, a knowledge of pharmacology, and familiarity with the effects that serious injuries have on the human body.
Free Consultation with an Attorney
In most situations the Law Offices of William H. Newkirk takes cases on a contingency basis. This means you pay nothing until the case is resolved.
Contact Bill Newkirk for a free, no-obligation consultation.
