Medications subject to controlled substances laws can pose a risk to human health. They are only available when recommended by a prescribing physician and administered by licensed medical professionals, such as pharmacists or nurses at a care facility. Those...
Medication Errors
IV drug administration is a leading cause of medication errors
Mistakes during drug administration can cause a host of medical challenges. Someone who receives the wrong drug might have an allergic reaction. The wrong dose could potentially lead to severe consequences, including an overdose. Timing errors could decrease the...
Failing to taper certain medications could harm patients
Medication errors come in many forms, and they often occur when a doctor initially prescribes a drug. However, mistakes can also happen while a patient receives a medication or when it is time to stop their treatment. Doctors often need to be very careful about ending...
How the rate of drug administration can cause patient injuries
Providing medication continues beyond supplying the correct prescription. Proper administration is equally crucial. Hence, even if the doctor prescribes the right medicine and dose and sufficiently checks for allergic reactions and contraindications, the patient can...
Failing to advise against dangerous drug and food interactions
Prescribing medicine does not only constitute giving the correct drug or dose. Part of the process also includes providing clear and concise instructions on taking it, such as requiring the patient not to take certain food while taking their medication. Failure to do...
How your doctor’s oversight can impact your health
Following a doctor's appointment or hospital stay, patients might anticipate receiving a prescription to aid in their recovery. However, delays or omissions in medicine prescriptions are an ongoing problem in modern health care facilities. When a doctor does not...
It’s important not to “double up” specific medications
There are many different types of medicine that you can certainly take at the same time. Someone who is being treated for cancer may also be given medication to help with nausea, for instance. But it is important for doctors and medical professionals to know how these...
Potential signs of an opioid overdose
Opioid overdoses are very common among those who use painkillers recreationally. These drugs can be quite dangerous and can result in fatal reactions when someone takes too much. There can also be significant problems with mixing medications that are not supposed to...
Multi-tasking is to blame for thousands of medication errors
People who work at a medical facility should use their expertise to safely administer treatments to those with medical needs. Those who receive inpatient care often depend on hospital staff for everything from their basic nutritional needs to the administration of...
A harmful prescription mistake is a form of medical malpractice
When they think about medical malpractice, most people envision a surgeon operating on the wrong patient or body part. Although this is a devastating error, mistakes can also happen in other medical situations. Dispensing or prescription errors in the health care...