Properly litigating a personal injury case ensuring that our clients complete and total recovery of their losses is always the first and foremost priority of the experienced personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys at Powell, Zero, Mundy. A qualified Powell, Zero, Mundy attorney may evaluate the viability of a potential medical malpractice claim based on a prescription error.
Almost one-third of the adults in the United States take 5 or more medications. Each year, adverse drug events (ADEs) associated with medication errors occur in the United States at an alarming rate. Annually, ADEs account for approximately 700,000 emergency department visits and 100,000 hospitalizations. Close to 5% of all hospitalized patients experience an ADE, making ADEs one of the most common types of inpatient errors. Medication errors may occur at any place in the drug distribution system.
These errors are typically the result of negligence and human error. It has been conspicuously noted by industry observers that many instances of medication errors are simply not reported, thus the number of errors may be even more prevalent.
Mistakes with medications may be caused by:
- Communication errors;
- Ambiguity in product names and medical abbreviations;
- Complicated and ambiguous directions;
- Manufacturer packaging and labeling errors;
- Failure to account for patient allergies;
- Failure to account for patient use of other medications.
The medical professionals commonly responsible for medication errors include drug manufacturers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and their assistants (e.g., pharmacy technicians). Prescription medication errors may result from mistakes that occur when administering, dispensing, monitoring, prescribing, or repackaging medication.
It is important that consumers who are patients pay close attention to the medications they regularly take for an illness or condition. Mistakes may be made by anyone at any time within the drug distribution system.