Prescription errors can be a serious form of medical malpractice. They often occur because a medical professional is negligent, fails to check records properly or accidentally mixes up medications for two different patients. Most of the time, these errors are not intentional, but they can still have serious consequences.
Every case is unique, so the specific symptoms depend on the drugs involved, the patient’s condition and the nature of the error. Below are two potential negative outcomes to consider:
1. A dangerous interaction
Some medications can have very harmful interactions with one another, potentially leading to an accidental overdose. For example, patients undergoing surgery often use narcotics as painkillers, such as fentanyl, oxycodone or morphine. These medications may be safe on their own, but if a patient is accidentally given two narcotics at the same time, it could result in an overdose.
Similarly, some patients are allergic to specific drugs. While one painkiller may be safe for a patient, administering a different one could lead to a deadly allergic reaction.
2. Lack of benefits
Even if there isn’t a severe negative outcome, such as an overdose, a prescription error can harm the patient by depriving them of the benefits they expected.
For instance, a patient experiencing issues with blood clots may need a blood thinner. If they are accidentally given a different medication, they could develop a fatal blood clot because they didn’t receive the necessary blood thinner. In such cases, the harm doesn’t come from the medication they were given but rather from the medication they didn’t receive.
If you or a family member has suffered due to medical malpractice, make sure you know what legal steps to take.
