INJURY | PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER | PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY | INJURIES

Prescription errors occur when doctors prescribe the wrong medication or when they don’t sufficiently warn the patient about harmful side effects. Prescription errors also occur when pharmacists incorrectly fill the prescription, provide the wrong medication, or fail to give correct dosing information. These errors can lead to serious injuries, an increase in illness and death.

Prescription errors, also known as “misfills,” result in the death of more than 7000 annually. More than 5 percent of the 3 billion prescriptions filled each year are incorrect. This amounts to more than $2 billion in medical expenses each year. Some common prescription errors include:

• Mistaking one medication for another because of a similar name
• Rushing to fill a lot of orders and miscounting
• Failing to give the patient proper dosing instructions because the patient has requested the prescription online or over the phone
• Mistakes caused by poorly trained pharmacists or pharmacists who are overworked
• Prescribing a drug that reacts with another medication the patient is taking
• Prescribing a drug that the patient is allergic to
• Pharmacists can’t read the doctor’s handwriting and fail to follow-up

Pharmacists can help avoid mistakes by:

• Having patients repeat instructions back to them
• Telling patients what side effects to worry about, and when to call the doctor
• Giving out brochures or other information on medication
• Writing clearly
• Looking up information; don’t guess
• Using computerized prescription checkers to avoid bad drug interactions
• Checking all prescriptions again before handing it to the patient
• Hiring well-trained pharmacists

What can patients do?

• Ask both your doctor and your pharmacist questions.
• Ask what medication you are being prescribed, why, and ask for all possible side effects and dosing information.
• Write it down! Check your doctor’s answers against your pharmacist’s, and look for possible conflicting answers.
• Use a proper measuring device instead of kitchen devices like measuring spoons.
• Tell your doctor and your pharmacist about any allergies you have, and ask them what side effects to look for in case you do have an allergic reaction to a medication.
• Tell your doctor and your pharmacist about all other medications you are taking or have taken.

When prescription errors happen, patients can be seriously injured or die. Contact a medical malpractice attorney immediately to have your questions answered. Your medical expenses might be covered by someone else if you have a case of prescription error.