Did You Suffer Because You Were Given the Wrong Drug or the Wrong Dose?
Medication errors are among the most common medical errors in the United States. Types of medication error may include overdose, underdose, the administration of contraindicated medications, the administration of the wrong medication and the failure to administer medication properly.
Serious errors can occur during the prescribing of a drug, when it is dispensed by the pharmacy or hospital staff or when the medication is administered by the nurse. The medical malpractice lawyers at the San Diego Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC, offer sound legal advice and experienced, aggressive representation to clients who have suffered due to a negligent medical error such as the administration of the wrong medication. Please contact us today for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Medication Error
- Poor handwriting on a prescription that results in the hospital dispensary providing the wrong medication or the wrong dosage
- Treatment or dosage mistakes arising out of the use of confusing abbreviations
- Failure to communicate dosage and treatment information clearly and correctly (verbally and in writing)
- Errors in calculating dosage based on patient age or weight
- Mistakes when giving medication intravenously or via catheter or port
- Failure to read a patient's chart, resulting in the administration of a drug to which the patient is allergic
- Administration of contraindicated medications (drugs that interact and cause serious or fatal side-effects)
- Negligence or carelessness on the part of a hospital pharmacy or dispensary
Steps You Can Take to Prevent Medication Error
It is vitally important to keep an accurate list of all the medications you or your loved one is taking. Be sure to include the dosage and the frequency. Also, one of the most effective ways you can prevent serious medication errors is to be sure to restate any allergies (such as to penicillin) every time you speak to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
It is very important for patients and their family members to educate themselves regarding any medications that are prescribed. Be sure you understand what each drug is for, the recommended dosing and the known side effects. Check to make sure the pharmacy hasn't given you the wrong medication. The fact is, the more you know the better you can protect yourself or your loved one.
Contact the Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC, for a free consultation with a top-notch San Diego, California, attorney dedicated to your rights and focused on obtaining maximum recovery after a serious injury or wrongful death caused by a prescription mistake or the administration of the wrong drug or the wrong dosage.
Free consultation • No up-front legal fees in personal injury cases • Located on the top floor of the NBC building in downtown San Diego
