Medication Errors Leading to Patient Harm

While medication is usually something that is prescribed to help a person’s medical condition or symptoms they are experiencing, sometimes medication can be more harmful than helpful. Sometimes, the wrong medication may be given to a person, or the wrong dose, or one that they may be allergic to. This is incredibly dangerous and can cause serious harm or even death. Even a small medication error can cause serious and irreversible harm. Medication errors leading to patient harm should never occur. When they do, it is considered to be medical malpractice in Oregon or Minnesota where our lawyer is and can help you. 

 

Who is Capable of Making Medication Errors?

 

While many people often think about the physician making the error, that is not always the case. Pharmacists dispensing the drug have a duty to ensure that the medication is being given for the right dose, right patient, right route, and right reason. 

 

If something seems off (i.e. the patient is allergic to that medication), it is their job to catch it before it is dispensed. If a physician prescribes a drug incorrectly (i.e. wrong dose, a medication a patient is allergic to, etc.) and it still gets dispensed to a patient if the pharmacist does not identify the mistake, they are both guilty of medical malpractice. Another potential party that is capable of making medication errors are nurses. 

 

Especially in hospital settings, nurses are responsible for administering medications and they often draw medications up to administer to patient, leaving room for dosing errors. 

 

Examples of Medication Errors Caused by Medical Malpractice

 

There are many different types of medication errors, and ways in which a medication error can lead to harm of the patient. Examples of medication errors include the following:

 

Prescription Errors – Prescription errors occur when a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant prescribed the wrong dose of a medication, prescribes the wrong medication, or prescribes a medication that a patient is allergic to. These mistakes can occur due to carelessness, a lack of thoroughly looking through a chart, failing to check drug interactions, or errors when electronically prescribing

 

Drug Administration Errors – Drug administration errors can cause patient harm if the wrong dose is given, it is administered by the wrong route (i.e IV push instead of IV infusion), if the drug is given at the wrong time, or if there is an equipment error that delivers a drug too fast or too slowly

 

Medication Dispensing Errors – Medication dispensing errors can occur when the wrong medication is dispensed, a prescription for another person is given to the wrong person, if the wrong dose of the correct medication is dispensed, or if a pharmacist fails to educate the patient regarding potential side effects of the drug or potential adverse reactions with other medications

 

Failing to Monitor Medication Use – While all patients taking medication regularly should be monitored, some medications require much closer monitoring (i.e anticoagulants). If patients are not followed closely on this medication, they can be at an increased risk for blood clots if the medication dosage is too low, or at an increased risk for bleeding if the medication dose is too high. Other medications can cause serious side effects or even wrongful death if not monitored appropriately

 

Hurt in Oregon?  Medication Errors Leading to Patient Harm Could Result in Compensation For You

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.