When you think about “medical malpractice,” your mind probably goes to surgical errors and missed diagnoses. However, medication errors can be much more serious than you may realize.
It’s estimated that more than 530,000 patients are injured due to medication errors at outpatient clinics every year, and a whopping one out of 10 patients in hospitals experience that problem. The most prevalent medication errors are wrong doses, wrong drugs and wrong timing – all of which can dramatically impact a patient’s health and safety.
What can you do to protect yourself?
There are some steps patients can take to minimize their risks. These include:
- Knowing your medications: Make sure that you keep track of the names of your medications, it’s purpose, the dose and how often you take it. If you’ve just been prescribed a new drug or are in a hospital setting, don’t be shy about nailing down these basics. You have the right to know.
- Asking questions before dosing: If you’re picking up a new prescription at a pharmacy, double-check with the pharmacist that the drug is what you think it is. If you’re picking up an old prescription, don’t take it if the pill doesn’t look the same as you expect without asking the pharmacist if there’s been a substitution.
- Talk to your nurse: If you’re in a hospital setting and are being dispensed medication by a nurse, speak up. Make sure that the nurse is giving you the medication you expect to receive, in the proper dose. If you have any doubts, ask them to check your records.
While unintentional, medication errors are still negligent acts – and they can have significant consequences for any patient’s future. If you’ve been injured due to a medication mistake, legal guidance is wise.