A medication error is a form of medical malpractice. Some medication errors can even be fatal, while others just may have negative ramifications on someone’s health.
However, it is often true that these medication errors are the result of negligence. Someone made a mistake and harmed the patient when that patient should have been subjected to a higher standard of care. Here are three examples of ways that this can occur.
Dangerous interactions
First of all, some medications have problematic interactions with each other. If a doctor prescribes, two medications that, when taken together, can lead to cardiac arrest, the patient is inadvertently being put in fatal danger without knowing it.
Allergic reactions
Additionally, the medical team needs to review the patient’s file to see if there are any medications that they are allergic to. For instance, some people are allergic to penicillin and can’t use it. For everyone else, it is a very effective drug for treating many ailments and infections. The doctor has to ensure that they don’t give someone a medication that doesn’t work for them.
The wrong dose
Finally, even when someone does get the right medication, they need to have the proper dose. Too low of a dose may mean that their health doesn’t improve because the drug isn’t effective. Too high of a dose could cause serious issues and may risk an overdose. The doctor needs to find the right balance.
Do you believe that you have suffered harm due to medical malpractice, or have you perhaps lost a loved one? You may deserve compensation, so take the time to look into your legal options.