PRESCRIPTION ERROR
As the number of prescriptions soar, so do dangerous or lethal prescription drug mistakes. At least 1.5 million Americans are sickened, injured or killed each year by errors in prescribing, dispensing and taking medications, according to the Consumer’s Medical Journal (2006).
Errors in medication are a major source of medical mistakes that can cause serious injury or death. Medication errors can occur because of a physician error, an error by pharmacies when they dispense the medication, or in hospitals, and include:
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Side effects of medication: Almost all medications have some types of side effects. Some are mild, some significant, some can be fatal. Sometimes a drug will be inappropriately prescribed to a patient with documented allergy.
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