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:

 
  • Inappropriate medication: the wrong medication given for a disease
  • Wrong medication: the patient gets the wrong medication despite the doctor prescribing the correct one.
  • Drug name mix-ups: several medications have similar-sounding names. The physician and pharmacist need to be vigilant about ensuring they are not negligent in prescribing or dispensing the wrong medication.
  • Dangerous medication combinations: there are numerous types of medications that should not be mixed because of life-threatening or fatal side effects or cross-reactions when combined.
 

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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