In the US alone, an average of 1.5 million people annually are adversely effected by medication errors
Of those 1.5 million individuals, nearly 7,000 had fatal consequences. For many of us, medication may not be necessary on a daily basis, however for a growing number of individuals medication has become a daily necessity. With the widespread need for medication continually growing, so too is the proportional growth of medication errors.
Medication errors can occur because of a host negligent scenarios. Sadly, fatalities and permanent impairment as as result of the medication error occur, resulting in the need for a lifetime of medical care and support.
Doctors, nurses and pharmacists undergo years of extensive pharmaceutical/medication training yet this does not curtail errors. The reason is simply because these professionals are human and humans make mistakes.
Why do Medication Errors Happen?
In my experience, medication mistakes occur for a variety of reasons.
- Improper diagnosis
- Adverse reactions
- Incomplete patient history
- Inaccurate information
- Human error
- Handwriting
- Data entry
- Similar naming and spelling
With the growing use of technology in the medical realm, we also see an increase in computer related errors that lead to improper dispensing, dosage errors and other preventable mistakes.
For some, an increased risk can lead to unfathomable circumstances. For children, the elderly and expectant mothers, medication errors can cause irreparable damage, and in many cases, death. If you or a loved one has experienced a medication error, contact me today. As a trusted legal professional, I will hold the responsible parties accountable and hopefully prevent future mistakes from ever happening again. Secondly, if my clients have been injured as a result of a negligence, I will go to the ends of the earth to prove their case and get the compensation they deserve.
