There are pros and cons to promoting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. Some worry that it is a job eliminator (and for some industries, that’s true), but others see ways that AI can make their industries safer for their customers.
The pharmaceutical industry is part of the latter group, some industry leaders believe. They are at the forefront of a movement to train AI to detect medication errors before they can adversely affect hospital patients.
New technology could prevent fatalities
You go to the hospital for treatment of your condition and never expect to receive the wrong drug that can kill you. One potential use of new technologies may be enhancing smart eyewear with AI-powered cameras that scan the environment for any mismatched vial labels, syringes, etc., to detect potential errors in dosing medicines in real time.
Sadly, the new technology comes too late for a 75-year-old woman in another state who died when she was given a lethal injection of the paralytic vecuronium before surgery instead of Versed, a potent benzodiazepine frequently used in surgery.
One study looks promising
Last year, a researcher published results indicating almost 100% AI accuracy at detecting vial swap mistakes that could harm patients before they occur. While still pending FDA clearance, this proposal may significantly reduce prescription drug errors in the future.
Did you suffer harm from a medication error?
Medication errors are a form of medical and pharmaceutical malpractice. Depending on at which point the system broke down, the injured patient may have legal recourse to seek damages from the medical provider or pharmacist.
