We expect that the medication we take will help us feel better. In many cases, it does have its intended effect. However, there are cases in which prescription drugs can put a patient’s well-being at risk. When drugs are prescribed and dispensed, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists must take certain steps to ensure the patient receives the correct dosage and type of drug. Otherwise, a patient can suffer serious side effects due to allergies or reactions with other drugs.
When a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist acts negligently and injures a patient, they can be held liable for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. If you have been injured by a medication error, contact Freidin Brown, P.A. today. Our Fort Lauderdale medication error lawyer can help you file a claim.
Causes of Medication Errors
A nurse, doctor, or pharmacist can cause a medication error by doing the following:
- Prescribing the wrong medication. Doctors should double-check that they are prescribing the correct drug for the patient.
- Administering the wrong medication. When in a hospital environment, the nurse should ensure they are giving the patient the right medication.
- Giving a patient the wrong dosage. The dosage needs to be correct for the patient’s age and weight, as too much or too little can cause serious reactions.
- Failing to warn the patient of all risks associated with the medication. All medications come with side effects and patients should be aware so they can determine whether or not they want to take the drug.
- Dangerously mixing different prescription drugs. Doctors should have adequate information about all the drugs a person is taking, as well as any drug-drug interactions and allergies.
- Submitting illegible handwritten prescriptions. Drugs with similar-looking names can be incorrectly dispensed when prescriptions are handwritten.
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Communication Issues
Many medication errors are caused by communication issues. Patients do not always understand what is being communicated to them and when communication is unclear, medication errors can occur. Patients should know the following about each drug they take:
- Drug name
- Drug appearance
- Why they are taking the drug
- How much and how often to take the drug
- How long to take the drug
- Best time to take the drug
- What to do about a missed dose
- Common side effects
- Common interactions with other drugs or foods
Communication issues do not solely occur with prescription drugs. Over-the-counter drugs can also lead to medication errors when the labels are not thoroughly read or understood. In addition, health care providers are often unaware that patients are taking over-the-counter medications as well.
Contact Freidin Brown, P.A. Today
Medicine can save lives, but it can also cause a lot of harm if not taken properly. Taking the wrong dosage or the wrong medication altogether can lead to a serious or even fatal issue.
The Fort Lauderdale medication error lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. can assess your situation and file a claim. Schedule a free consultation by filling out the online form or by calling us today.
