Imagine you go to the doctor for help, but instead of getting better, you end up sicker because of a mistake with your medicine. Sadly, this happens more often than we’d like to think. Mistakes with medicine, like getting the wrong dose or even the wrong medicine altogether, are called medication errors.
These errors can happen at different points, from when the doctor prescribes to when you take the medicine. If you take medication regularly or have a chronic illness, it’s crucial to understand the risks and how to protect yourself.
Understanding medical errors
Medical errors, especially wrong prescriptions, are a serious concern for patients and healthcare providers. These can include giving the wrong drug, dose, or even medicine to the wrong patient. These errors are more common than you might think. In fact, they cause many hospital stays and even deaths each year.
How common are medication errors?
Medication errors happen frequently. About 6 out of every 100 hospital stays involve a medication error. These mistakes most often occur when doctors prescribe or order medicine or when nurses give it to patients. Almost half of all medication errors happen during prescribing or ordering. Nurses and pharmacists catch many of these mistakes, but not all of them.
Why do medication errors occur?
There are many reasons why medication errors happen. Sometimes, doctors or nurses are too busy or get distracted. Other times, handwriting is hard to read or there’s confusion about drug names that sound alike. Sometimes, patients don’t give complete information about their health or other medicines they’re taking.
How to protect yourself
To stay safe, always tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Ask questions about new prescriptions. Ensure you understand how to take your medicine and what it’s for. If something seems wrong, speak up. Don’t be afraid to double-check with your doctor or pharmacist.
When to seek legal help
If you’ve been harmed by a medication error, you should talk to an attorney. Legal help can be important if you have big medical bills, lost wages, or long-lasting health problems because of the mistake. A lawyer can help you understand your rights and whether you should take legal action.
While medication errors are common, many can be prevented. By staying informed and involved in your healthcare, you can help reduce the risk of errors. Remember, asking questions and speaking up if something seems wrong is okay. Your health and safety are the top priority.