Medication can literally be a lifesaver. It can cure viruses, treat cancer and mental illness among many other conditions.
Despite the potential benefits, they can also negatively impact people when not used the right way. Mistakes prescribing, dispensing, and giving medications injure hundreds of thousands of people each year. However, medication errors are preventable.
What Are Medication Errors?
Medication errors occur due to inappropriate use. A medication error that causes harm is referred to as a “preventable adverse drug event.” A medication error that occurs but does not cause harm is considered a “potential adverse drug event.
” Medical professionals have years of education in order to acquire a deep knowledge of how medications work by themselves and in conjunction with other prescriptions.
For example, if someone is taking Tylenol, which contains acetaminophen, but is then prescribed a prescription pain medication that also contains the same, it could put them at increased risk of liver damage due to the consumption of more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen.
The most common causes of medication errors include:
Children are often at a heightened risk of medication errors, as they usually require different doses of most drugs than adults.
What Can You Do?
Since a good offense is the best defense, one critical thing that you can do to minimize risks is to educate yourself. Your doctor is available to answer any questions you may have. Whenever you begin taking a new medication, be sure to ask a lot of questions, including the following:
Additionally, by using a computer to enter and print/forward any prescription details, your doctor can also help to prevent medication errors.
Another thing that you should do in order to prevent medication errors is medication reconciliation. This means that you should always share your most up-to-date medical information with your providers.
This includes:
Finally, be sure to follow these safe medication tips:
Graves McLain Can Help.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a medication error, call Graves McLain at 918-359-6600 or fill out a free consultation form online. When you call, one of our experienced Dangerous Drug Attorneys will speak with you for FREE—and determine the best course of action.
We review every detail of your situation at no cost to you—and fight hard to protect your rights. Trust our team, we are here to help. At Graves McLain, you will never pay an attorney’s fee upfront—and you owe us nothing until we win your case.
Graves McLain, Serious Lawyers For Serious Injuries.
When injury victims need a law firm with a reputation for excellence, turn to Graves McLain Injury Lawyers. We are a top-rated personal injury firm determined to be the best. With decades of award-winning representation, our clients recover the compensation they need to put their lives back together.
