Drug prescribing, dispensing and administering errors
Drug prescription errors, dispensing errors and the incorrect administration of medication are common causes of adverse incidents. In fact the problem is thought to be so common that drug prescribing experts liken the number of deaths from prescribing errors to the deaths that would result from three jumbo jet crashes every two days. These errors can be made by anyone involved in administering or dispensing medication such as hospital doctors, GPs, nurses, hospital pharmacists, high street chemists or even care homes.
If you think you may have a case for compensation contact us and seek specialist advice from one of our clinical negligence lawyers. You can either fill out our online enquiry form, request a call back or call us direct on 0800 915 4650.
These errors occur for all manner of reasons. Many drugs have similar names and some are in similar packaging which can cause confusion. There might have been a failure to read the prescription properly or clarify it with the doctor if it is unclear. Cases with which we deal include:-
- Wrong drug
- Incorrect strength/dose of medicine - such as an under dose or an over dose
- Incorrect quantity
- Incorrect frequency
- Incorrect duration - where a drug is given for too short or too long a time period
- Wrong dosage form and label
- Wrong patient
- Administering of drug wrongly
- Giving drugs to people with conditions which make them unsuitable
- Giving drugs to people who are already taking another drug which will not react well
Where repeat prescriptions are provided, the mistakes can be repeated again and again thus worsening a patient's condition.
The effects of these medication errors can be severe in some instances. Where the control of a medical condition is disrupted by a medication error, the experience for the patient can be frightening as well as dangerous and damaging to their health. Many of our clients think that their condition has worsened as opposed to thinking that their problems are in fact due to a problem with their medication.
