It is estimated that in any given week four out of every five U.S. adults will use prescription medicines, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or dietary supplements and nearly one-third of adults will take five or more different medications. A 2006 study by the Institute of Medicine reported that at least 1.5 million Americans are sickened, injured or killed each year by errors in prescribing, dispensing and taking medications.
Not surprisingly, the Institute of Medicine also stated that the frequency of prescription errors and preventable adverse drug events is a very serious cause for concern. The report stated that at least a quarter of the injuries caused by drug errors are clearly preventable.
What are common prescription errors?
Mistakes are not only made by individuals but also in hospital settings by trained medical personnel (doctors, nurses or pharmacists) during all steps of the medication process. Common errors include:
· Prescribing the wrong medication
· Dispensing the wrong medication
· Prescribing the right medication in the wrong dosage
· Prescribing a medication that may have severe interactions with other medications the patient is currently taking
· Filling the wrong prescription or dosage
· Giving patients the wrong instructions for taking the medications
· Neglecting to monitor the patient’s response to drugs
· Mislabeling the drug placed in a bottle and misuse of generic drugs
Why do prescription errors happen?
No person should ever have to experience complications due to prescription errors and there is certainly no excuse for these situations (especially in hospital or pharmaceutical settings), but there are some factors that can contribute to this unfortunate chain of events, including:
· Failure of the doctor to ask all of the pertinent questions while examining the patient
· Similar drug names and confusing drug suffixes like SR or XL
· Illegible handwriting on the prescription
· Overworked, distracted and interrupted physicians or pharmacists
· Inexperienced pharmacists or pharmacy technicians
· Failure to double-check medication names, dosages and interactions
What can you do to prevent prescription errors?
· Inform your doctor about all drugs, supplements, vitamins, etc. you are currently taking.
· Inform your doctor about your allergies and reactions to medications.
· Make sure you can read your doctor’s prescription.
· Ask questions about the medication prescribed (how to take it, side effects, food/drink to avoid, etc.).
· Check the medication you get from the pharmacy to ensure it is the correct drug and dosage.
· Ask questions about the medication directions, including how to measure liquid medications.
· Get written information on side effects from the pharmacist.
· Get help in taking your medication if you have vision or memory problems.
Patients trust doctors to prescribe the correct medication so they can get better. Likewise, they trust pharmacists to properly fill those prescriptions. When a breakdown in the system occurs and a prescription error is to blame, the patient may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to sue for damages. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer will generally consult with medical experts to investigate your unique situation and help you collect the compensation you deserve for:
· Bodily injuries
· Past and future medical bills
· Past and future lost wages
· Pain, suffering, disability, disfigurement and emotional distress
