The patient-provider relationship is built on trust. When doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or physician’s assistants care for Oklahomans, we’re placing our well-being into their care, and the last thing anyone wants is a medication mistake. Unfortunately, medication errors are relatively common.
Think about each person who could be involved in ordering and administering pharmaceutical drugs: primary care doctors, specialist physicians (often several working as a team), various nurses, medical and nursing assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and potentially others. Each time the orders for a medication change hands, there is an opportunity for a mistake to happen.
The Impact of Medication Errors in Oklahoma
One study identified medication errors as “the most frequent and avoidable source of patient harm.” The study also found that between 7,000 and 9,000 people die as a direct result of medication errors each year in the United States.
Medication errors pose significant risks to patient safety and well-being, often resulting in severe consequences such as worsened health conditions or even fatalities. These errors can occur at any stage—from prescription writing to dispensing to administering—and are preventable with careful attention and adherence to established protocols.
Medication errors result from neglect and could warrant a medical malpractice case if specific criteria are met. The medical malpractice team at Maples, Nix & Diesselhorst in Oklahoma City created this article as a guide to medication errors, including their causes, effects, and essential steps to take if you believe you’ve been affected.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of the consequences of medication errors, we encourage you to contact the office of Maples, Nix, and Diesselhorst today for a free consultation.
What is a Medication Error?
The term “medication error” encompasses many categories of preventable mistakes, including:
- Prescribing errors – Incorrect medication, dosage, or frequency due to miscommunication or lack of thorough patient information.
- Dispensing errors – Issuing the wrong medication or incorrect dosage at pharmacies or hospitals.
- Administration errors – Incorrect administration route or timing, leading to adverse effects.
- Monitoring errors – Failure to detect adverse reactions or drug interactions, prolonging patient harm.
These errors can result from various causes, including poor communication between healthcare providers, illegible prescriptions, inadequate training, or systemic flaws in medication management protocols. Other causes may be interruptions or distractions during administration, a language barrier between healthcare providers and patients, or poor patient record-keeping.
Healthcare workers often work within imperfect systems designed to increase profits for hospital administration and other stakeholders. Therefore, it’s important to note that nurses and physicians may not be the only people to blame when medication errors occur. However, it is the provider’s responsibility to uphold the standard of care required regardless of the systems that may make it difficult.
Most of the time, medication errors occur when a medication is prescribed or ordered. Nurses and pharmacists often identify these errors by checking prescription orders before filling the orders, this is sometimes accomplished with the system software that might flag a potential error.
Specifically, medication errors may include:
- Incorrect dose
- Expired product
- Incorrect duration or timing
- Incorrect preparation
- Incorrect strength or rate of administration (for drugs administered via IV)
- Dispensing a drug that is a known allergen
- Dispensing a drug that is a known contraindication
- Prescription distortions (illegible handwriting, abbreviations, or substitutions) that lead to error
- Wrong-patient administration
Identifying a Medication Error
It’s important for Oklahoma patients and their loved ones to know the signs of medication errors. If you or a loved one is under the care of a provider, the team of experienced attorneys at Maples, Nix & Diesselhorst recommends asking many questions about any prescribed medication before administration. Asking the questions below and noting the answers could be life-saving for yourself or your loved one.
Ask these questions before medication administration:
- What is the name of the drug and any other names the medication is known by?
- How will the medication be administered? (IV, orally, injection, etc.)
- How frequently will it be administered?
- Who will be administering the medication?
- What does it look like?
- Are there any contraindications with the other medications I am taking?
If you know the answers to these questions, you will be more equipped to advocate for yourself or your loved one and prevent medication errors before they occur.
Regardless of your preparedness, neglect can still result in medication errors. Recognizing a medication error can be challenging, especially if it exacerbates existing health conditions or introduces new symptoms.
Common signs of medication errors to look for include:
- New or worsening symptoms not consistent with the intended treatment.
- Unexpected side effects such as allergic reactions, gastrointestinal distress, or neurological symptoms.
- Delayed recovery or lack of improvement despite adherence to prescribed treatment.
Prompt action is essential to mitigate harm and ensure accountability if you suspect a medication error.
Steps to Take After a Medication Error
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention
- Contact a healthcare provider to address the error promptly. Provide details, including the medication name, dosage, known allergies, and current health status.
- Document Evidence
- Preserve the medication packaging, related medical records, and detailed notes on symptoms or adverse effects experienced. Photograph physical symptoms like rashes or injuries caused by the error.
- Report the Error
- Notify the healthcare facility where the error occurred and consider reporting to regulatory bodies such as the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Reporting helps prevent future occurrences and ensures accountability.
- Consult with a Medical Malpractice Attorney
- If the error resulted from negligence or substandard care, consult a medical malpractice attorney. Experienced medical malpractice lawyers, like the Maples, Nix & Diesselhorst team, can assess your case, gather evidence, and pursue legal action to recover damages.
- Follow Up on Medical Treatment
- Continue monitoring your health closely and follow medical advice diligently. Document any ongoing symptoms or complications for future medical and legal purposes.
Work with Oklahoma’s Best Medication Error Malpractice Team
Medication errors are serious healthcare concerns that demand proactive measures from healthcare providers and patients. By understanding the causes, recognizing signs, and taking steps after an error, you can protect your health or the health of your loved one and pursue legal action when necessary.
If you’ve been affected by a medication error and need legal help, contact the Maples, Nix and Diesselhorst team for a free consultation.
