Medication errors are one of the most common forms of medical malpractice in California. If you catch a medication error in time, you can shrug it off as a simple mix-up. But if someone has been taking the wrong medication for days or even weeks, they could suffer from severe side effects. Here’s how pharmacists can avoid medication errors.
Reducing the frequency of medication errors?
Many medications look similar and have similar names. As a result, they are easy to mix up before they’re dispensed to the patient. To reduce the number of medication errors, doctors should include a description of the medication along with the name when they send it to the pharmacy. This can help pharmacists ensure that they’re giving patients the right medication for their condition.
Pharmacists can also use different techniques to help them differentiate between similar-sounding medications. For example, they could type one medication in capital letters and another medication in lowercase letters. This can make them less likely to mix up the medications before they’re given to the patient.
If possible, pharmacists should also order their drugs from different manufacturers so that they can note the different packaging. If they order all their drugs from the same companies, the packaging might be too similar, making it easy to mix up the drugs when they arrive at the facility. Manufacturers could also make an effort to package their drugs differently to reduce the number of medication errors.
When should you sue for medical malpractice?
Medication errors can have a severe impact on your health and wellness. In the worst cases, they could even lead to your death or the death of a loved one. If you or a family member have suffered from a medication error, an attorney could help you fight for financial compensation.
