Medication Errors and Medical Malpractice
Every year, millions of medical errors occur across the United States. There has been a significant increase in the number of people getting treatment for medication errors in recent years – an increase of more than 50%. As per the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, over 1.5 million people across the country became injured or ill due to the side effects of medication or because they were prescribed or took the wrong dose or type of medication in 2008.
Preventing medication errors
New York patients should know that an estimated 7,000 people around the country die annually due to medication errors, and a total of about 1 million errors happen each year in U.S. hospitals. In one 2016 case, an 87-year-old woman was rushed to the emergency room due to a high fever, and her sister gave the ER doctor the woman’s medical history and a list of the medications she was on including some that had been recently added for cognitive issues.
Most IV medication errors caused by poor clinical practices
For years, intravenous medication errors ranked among the top medical mistakes at hospitals in New York and nationwide. Experts thought that the advent of the IV smart pump would eliminate the issue, but, according to a multihospital study, IV errors are still common.
Reducing medication errors caused by distractions
Nurses in New York City hospitals have difficult and important jobs, and they are rarely able to complete their shifts without being frequently distracted or interrupted. The errors that such interruptions lead to can be serious, and nurses are expected to focus intently on what they are doing to avoid distractions when performing important tasks such as sorting or administering medications.
Medication errors can be particularly dangerous
Doctors in New York and around the country often have extremely poor handwriting, but pharmacists generally do a good job of deciphering what they have written and most prescriptions are filled correctly. However, when prescriptions are not filled properly, the consequences can be fatal.
Medical errors cause far too many deaths
New Yorkers who have recently spent time hospitalized may be dismayed to learn that studies have found 200,000 to 400,000 deaths happen annually as a result of preventable errors in hospitals around the country. In addition to the emotional costs to loved ones, medical mistakes are estimated to cost upwards of $15 billion annually in expenses such as patient care and prescription drug services.
Lack of concern over medication errors from pharmacies
When New York residents pick up their prescription medication from their local pharmacy, they expect to be given the correct prescription and the correct amount. However, some individuals find that when pharmacies make mistakes, staff members and management often fail to respond to individuals’ concerns.
Infant medication errors caused many poison center calls
New York parents of infants should be interested to learn that a study found that many calls to poison centers regarding infants involved medication errors. The study analyzed more than 270,000 calls to the National Poison Data System over a period of 10 years.
When You Suffer Allergic Reactions due to Medication, can You Sue for Malpractice?
Your body may react to certain types of medication, and release chemicals to counter the hypersensitive physical condition. This situation is commonly known as an “allergic reaction” to medicines. Thousands of people in New York State suffer from food allergy, dust allergy, pollen allergy, and also medicine allergy.
Steps for avoiding medication errors
Nurses in New York can reduce the chances of making a medication error by following some simple steps. First, they should observe what is known as the five rights for medication administration. This means transcribing the medication and making sure the right dosage of the right medication is prescribed for the right patient. It should also use the correct route and timing.