Common Types of Medication Errors

Many people do not realize the dangers that can arise when medication errors happen. Medication mistakes can result in injuries and even death. Medication errors can result in severe psychological, financial, and emotional stress. When a medical professional makes a medication error that causes harm, the victim or their family may have legal options. A victim of a medical error may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim against the negligent party and recover financial compensation. This article discusses some of the common types of medication errors.

Common Types of Medication Errors

Thousands of people fall victim to medication errors in Atlanta and across the United States of America every year. The following are some of the common medication errors people in Atlanta and across the United States fall victim to:

Incorrect Administration

Incorrect administration is one of the common medication errors people in Atlanta and across the United States fall victim to. Usually, this type of medication error is caused by nurses. However, even doctors can administer a drug incorrectly to a patient. Incorrect administration of medication entails using the wrong type and/or quantity of medication. If a healthcare professional administers the wrong type and/or dose of medication to a patient, they can cause unnecessary harm to the patient.

Incorrect Compounding

Drug compounding is when ingredients are combined, mixed, or altered to create a medication tailored to a patient’s needs. Compounding is when two or more drugs are combined. If a healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist, makes a mistake during the compounding process, the resulting drug can be ineffective. It may also adversely affect the patient. For example, an improperly compounded drug can cause an allergic reaction or some other type of adverse event.

Incorrect Use of Medication

Another common type of medication error in Atlanta and across the U.S. is incorrect use of medication. A healthcare provider should only provide medication to patients if they need it to treat a specific condition. If a healthcare provider administers drugs to a patient who does not need the drugs or who needs different drugs, they can cause harm to the patient.

Improper Monitoring

It is vital for medical professionals to monitor patients who are taking medication closely. If, for example, a healthcare professional administers medication through an IV and fails to monitor how the patient responds to the drugs, mistakes can happen that can have devastating results.

Underuse of a Medication

A healthcare provider must give a patient a high enough dose of medication so that the medication can have the desired impact. Underusing a medication is a medical error that can worsen a patient’s health.

Overuse of a Medication

Finally, if a healthcare provider overmedicates a patient, they can cause unnecessary harm.

Legal Help Is Available

Contact our Atlanta medication error attorney at Carroll Law Firm for help with a medication error case.

Source:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2628513/