https://www.medlegal360.com/how-a-medication-error-could-spin-your-life/
Prescribing the wrong medication is not a simple mistake but
can steal lives sometimes. When the medication prescribed goes wrong, it can be
considered medical
malpractice, causing long-term harm to a patient. Never believe that only a
doctor can make a medication
error. It can happen to the person who transcribes the doctor's
prescription, the person who dispenses the medication, or the person who
administers it.
A physician may be perplexed if they confuse one medication
for another due to similarity in names. A mistake can also be made by a
transcriptionist or a nurse who misunderstands the physician's shorthand.
Again, the pharmacist or person who dispenses the medicine may administer the
incorrect medication due to illegible handwriting. The nurses who administer
the medication may use the incorrect method of administration, further
complicating the situation. If medicine is administered without first assessing
a patient's condition and is not monitored, it can have negative consequences.
Medicines in similar-looking containers can be perplexing to both the
pharmacist and the people who use them.
FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)
Any type of medication error can be voluntarily reported to
the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The most common errors
reported are administering the incorrect medication or dose and administering a
medication that may interact with the patient's other medications. Prescribing
unauthorized drugs, failing to warn the patient about side effects, and
prescribing a drug or pill to which the patient is allergic are all serious
errors.
Medication errors can have a wide range of consequences,
ranging from minor discomfort to serious health problems. It is possible to
experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, aggravated pre-existing symptoms,
disabilities, congenital disabilities, coma, or death.
Medical malpractice lawsuit and medication error
Aside from a physician, nurse, and pharmacist, a
pharmaceutical company can also be held liable for mislabeling, manufacturing,
or packaging errors that cause people to be misled. Whoever makes a mistake may
cause a patient to be permanently disabled. Every citizen is entitled to adequate
and high-quality medical care. When something negatively impacts their quality
of life, they have the right to sue the person who caused the harm.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laid down guidelines
for manufacturing and distributing medications in the United States. The acts
used by the federal government to regulate medication errors were Title 21 of
the Code of Federal Regulations, the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act
of 2005, and the National Medical Error Disclosure and Compensation Act of
2005.
How to prevent medication errors
Medication error is also a kind of medical error. On the one
hand, the patient should be aware of the type of medication he is taking. He
should notify the doctor if he has any allergies. The doctor must inform the
patient about the medication's potential side effects. If you experience any
discomfort after taking the medication, please notify your doctor.
Conclusion
Everyone, from the patient to the nurse, should take
precautions to prevent medication errors. MedWatch and all health professionals
should be on the lookout for medication errors. In the event of a medication
error, contact a medical
malpractice attorney to seek compensation. Having your medical documentation
as an evidence, you can make your claim valid.
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