Prescription medication errors happen far too frequently and can have significant consequences. From emergency hospitalizations to long-term health complications caused by medication mistakes, the impact of a prescription error can be life-altering. If a medication error has harmed you or a loved one, understanding the common types of prescription mistakes can help you determine if you have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Types of Dangerous Prescription Errors
Prescription errors can occur at multiple points in the health care system—from the doctor's initial decision to the pharmacy's final dispensing.
Incorrect Dosage Instructions
Dosage errors are among the most common and dangerous medication mistakes in health care. These errors can occur when a doctor prescribes the wrong amount of medication or when a pharmacist misinterprets the prescription. For example, a doctor might accidentally write a prescription for 50 mg instead of 5 mg, or a pharmacist might misread "daily" as "twice daily" on poorly written prescriptions.
The consequences of incorrect dosages vary widely depending on the medication involved. Overdosing on high-risk medications can lead to toxicity, organ damage, or even death. Underdosing a needed medication means patients don't receive the therapeutic benefits needed to treat their condition, which can allow diseases to progress unchecked.
Dispensing the Wrong Medication
Mix-ups at the pharmacy represent another category of dangerous medication errors. These mistakes typically occur when medications have similar names or packaging, leading to confusion during the dispensing process resulting in the incorrect medication being provided to a patient.
When a patient receives the wrong medication, they fail to receive treatment for their actual condition while being exposed to unnecessary drugs that could cause adverse reactions. For patients with chronic conditions who depend on their medications to maintain health, these errors can be particularly dangerous.
Failure to Check for Drug Interactions
Some of the most dangerous prescription errors involve medications that interact poorly with each other or with a patient's existing health conditions. These interaction errors occur when prescribers or pharmacists fail to account for the complete medication profile of a patient, including over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and prescriptions from multiple providers.
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Drug-drug interactions can dramatically increase or decrease the effectiveness of medications, causing unexpected side effects or treatment failures. For example, certain antibiotics interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills, while some antacids can prevent proper absorption of other medications.
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Drug-condition interactions are equally concerning, such as when decongestants are prescribed to patients with high blood pressure or when certain pain relievers are given to those with kidney disease. These medications can worsen existing health conditions, sometimes with
Inadequate Patient Education
Many medication errors stem from insufficient communication between health care providers and their patients. When patients leave a doctor's office or pharmacy without clear instructions about their medications, preventable harm becomes much more likely to occur.
Inadequate patient education can lead to confusion about proper dosing, timing, and administration methods. Patients might take medications incorrectly, miss doses, or continue using medications longer than intended. For instance, patients might not understand that certain medications should be taken with food or that others cannot be crushed or split.
Language barriers and health literacy challenges compound these problems. Patients with limited English proficiency or those who struggle to understand medical terminology are at higher risk of misinterpreting instructions, yet healthcare providers don't always account for these factors when providing medication guidance.
How a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help
The process of determining liability for prescription errors can be complex. Multiple parties may share responsibility, including prescribing physicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and even healthcare facilities with inadequate safety protocols. The knowledgeable Kansas City medical malpractice attorneys on the Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet team can help you navigate this situation.
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In Missouri, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice generally gives you two years from the date you discovered the injury to file a claim, making timely consultation with an attorney crucial.
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Our attorneys work with medical experts to establish the standard of care that should have been provided and demonstrate how health care professionals deviated from that standard. This essential process helps determine whether your case meets the legal threshold for medical malpractice.
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Medical malpractice claims for prescription errors may seek compensation for additional medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in severe cases, long-term care needs.
If you suspect that a medication error has caused harm to you or a loved one, we encourage you to preserve all evidence, including medication bottles, prescription paperwork, and medical records. Be sure to document any adverse reactions or symptoms that occurred after taking the medication.
The path to recovery after a medication error involves both physical healing and legal accountability. By understanding common prescription errors and working with experienced legal counsel, you can protect your rights and help prevent similar mistakes from harming others in the future.
