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• Medication Error

© By Adam from UK

Medication Error medical definition: A medication error is defined as any preventable event that leads to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. Prescription medication errors occur when a doctor prescribes the wrong medication or incorrect dose to a patient, when a nurse administers the wrong medication in a hospital setting, or a pharmacist incorrectly fills a prescription for a patient. Medication errors can happen at any point during the medication-use system such as:

• When prescribing a medication

• When entering information into a computer system

• When the medication is being prepared or dispensed

• When the medication is given to, or taken, a patient

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives more than 100,000 U.S. reports each year associated with a suspected medication error. Serious and harmful effects can happen when prescription medications are used incorrectly. In some cases, medication errors can result in:

• Death

• Life threatening situation

• Hospitalization

• Disability

• Birth defect

Medication Error in Medical Malpractice Cases

If a patient is administered the wrong medication or the incorrect dose is give, the responsible party may be guilty of medical malpractice. Anyone anywhere down the line of prescribing and administering medication can be held liable for medication errors. This can include doctors, nurses, hospitals, pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Medication errors differ from adverse drug effects in that somewhere down the chain of command, someone or some facility is responsible for a mix up as opposed to a patient discovering they have an unknown adverse reaction to certain kinds of medication. 

Experienced lawyers can help you hold negligent parties accountable if you or a loved one suffered due to a medication error. Contact a Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyer today to review your case: 800-392-4529

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