Medication mistakes occur far more often than they should. Every year, up to 7,000 Americans die from complications that can be attributed to medication errors.
In an attempt to reduce the number of medication mistakes that occur at healthcare facilities and pharmacies around the country, researchers looked for patterns—and they found at least a few. For example, the single most common mistake is administering the wrong dosage, and the drugs that are most often administered in the wrong dose include insulin, morphine, and potassium chloride. Other common errors include distributing the wrong drug entirely and failing to anticipate adverse interactions.
If you incurred damages because a physician or pharmacist made a medication mistake, contact The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny. Richard is a seasoned medical malpractice attorney with more than 26 years of experience in legal practice. Call 212-421-0300 to schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer in New York City.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common medication mistakes:
- Administering the Wrong Dosage
There are many types of errors that can result in a patient taking the wrong dosage. For example, the doctor can prescribe the wrong dosage, the pharmacist can prepare the wrong dosage, or the nurse can administer the wrong dosage.
- Distributing the Wrong Medication
Giving a patient the wrong drug entirely is another common medication mistake. Even if the physician includes the correct medication on the prescription, the pharmacist could misinterpret it or grab the wrong product when preparing it.
It’s also possible to receive someone else’s prescription, which is why pharmacies typically verify each customer’s name multiple times. While this might ensure you receive the correct bag, it does not necessarily mean the correct medication is inside because the prescription could have been switched with another customer’s before being bagged.
- Failing to Anticipate Adverse Interactions
Providers have an obligation to familiarize themselves with the possible side effects of every medication that they prescribe. They must also review which drugs should not be combined so they do not end up prescribing a dangerous cocktail of powerful medications.
Unfortunately, such knowledge is only useful if doctors actually ask patients about the medications and supplements they are currently taking. It is not uncommon for people to see multiple providers nowadays, which means the information contained within a patient’s medical records at any given facility might be missing crucial details.
Call 212-421-0300 to Speak with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in New York City
If you received substandard care in a medical setting and suffered damages as a result, turn to The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny. Our New York City personal injury attorneys have more than 100 combined years of experience in legal practice. Call 212-421-0300 or use our Online Contact Form to set up a free consultation.
