In an effort to meet the goals outlined in the 2007 Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the Food and Drug Administration has released two guidance documents focused on reducing medication errors. According to the Institute of Medicine, around 7,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to medication-related issues, so reducing them is a priority.
In an effort to meet the goals outlined in the 2007 Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the Food and Drug Administration has released two guidance documents focused on reducing medication errors. According to the Institute of Medicine, around 7,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to medication-related issues, so reducing them is a priority.
The first guidance document deals with preventing errors related to drugs with similar sounding or looking names. Per the Institute of Safe Medication Practices, brand names that look or sound alike are a large source of medication errors. To help reduce mistakes, submission information from applicants and sponsors should include the proprietary name of a drug, its intended pronunciation and what category the drug should be classified as.
The second guidance document from the FDA addresses potential medication packaging issues. The agency points out the importance of patients being able to find and use information about a drug on its packaging to prevent taking an incorrect dosage or to avoid mixing certain medications. Another guidance on labels and labeling is expected to be released by the FDA in the near future.
Medication errors are all too common, and they can take a variety of forms. Misreading a prescription, not checking for allergies and failing to verify dosage can all lead to a person taking the wrong medication or medication in incorrect amounts. These mistakes can be very injurious to patients. When people have been harmed due to a medication error, a lawyer could help them determine what caused it and let them know what their options are for seeking recourse.
