Medication Errors

Tulsa, Norman, Edmond, Oklahoma City, and McAlester, Oklahoma

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edication error is one of the most common forms of medical malpractice and it is entirely preventable. The harm caused can range from minor to deadly. The chain of drug delivery is long and can involve many individuals and organizations. Just one break down, one mistake, along this chain can cause a catastrophic medication error.

How medications errors occur

The potential for error begins with naming, packaging, and labeling. Poor packaging and labeling, coupled with the fact that completely unrelated medications have similar names can lead to administration of the wrong drug or the wrong dose. Add the bad handwriting that doctors are notorious for and you have a deadly mistake waiting to happen.

It doesn’t end there. Failure to consider a patient’s medical history or the other medications being taken, and sometimes flat out mixing up patient’s charts in a hospital setting, add more layers of danger.

Medication errors happen too often

There are about 1.5 million victims of medication error in the U.S. every year. According to a report released by The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2006, hospitalized patients can expect to experience at least one medication error every day that they are in the hospital. One study reviewed in the report found that just one error added an average of $8,750 to the cost of a hospital stay.

Common medication errors

Medication errors can be the result of an inappropriate prescription being issued by the doctor, but many times they occur during administration of a drug. Common medication errors include:

Wrong dose
Inappropriate medication for the medical condition
Allergic reaction
Inappropriate combination of medications
Administration to the wrong patient
Pharmacy error
Emergency rooms administering pain medication to intoxicated patients
Administration of experimental drugs without patient consent

Injuries caused by medication error

Some medication errors are harmless but many are fatal or cause long-term harm. Medication errors can cause:

Brain injury
Condition not improved
Condition worsened
Overdose
Seizures
Paralysis
Skin allergy
Digestive problems
Unexpected temporary mental or physical impairment causing accidents
Death

In some cases a reversible condition may be allowed to progress to the point that it is no longer treatable or has caused permanent damage.

If you have been injured by medication error, please contact one of our experienced medical malpractice attorneys today.

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McAlester Office
343 E. Carl Albert Pkwy.
McAlester, OK 74501

Phone: (918) 423-0421
or (800) 658-1596
Fax: (918) 423-0266

Oklahoma City Office
525 Central Park Dr., 101
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Phone: (405) 524-2268
or (800) 299-7299
Fax: (405) 525-3231

Tulsa Office
2417 E. Skelly Dr.
Tulsa, OK 74170

Phone: (918) 749-0749
or (800) 798-2613
Fax: (918) 747-0751

Disclaimer: The information contained throughout this site is meant to generally inform the reader about our areas of practice, including accident injury. This information is not meant to be taken as legal advice and nothing on this site establishes a lawyer / client relationship. Our accident lawyers provide legal assistance in the Tulsa area including Oklahoma City, McAlester and Norman, Oklahoma.