We, as people, expect that when we visit a doctor’s office and medication is prescribed it will be sufficient in helping make us feel better. If the medicine does not work we tend to go back to the exact same doctor so that they can prescribe us “better” medicine. However, what happens when you have received a medication error? If you or a loved one have sustained an injury due to a medication error from a medical provider you should seek an experienced Sacramento medical malpractice attorney to see if you have a case.

What are Medication Errors?

Medication errors can be harmless to some, however, for others, it can prove to be detrimental. A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. Approximately 1.3 million people are injured annually in the United States following medication errors and unfortunately this number continues to increase making a great amount of medical malpractice claims being filed.

What are the Most Common Medication Errors?

Though there are several reasons for medication errors, there are certain errors that are repeated throughout Sacramento. These medication errors include, but are not limited to: taking too much medication, overdoses, medications interacting with other medications, illegible prescriptions; and staff distractions. Also, studies show that most medication errors occurs with older people because they often times more than one prescription within an eight hour time frame.

There are certain precautions that can be made to minimize medication errors. When your doctor gives you a prescription you should be sure to ask him or her: the name of the drug; the correct dosage; what the drug is used for; and the purpose of the drug. Asking these questions before taking certain medication should keep error rates at a low.

Need Legal Advice?

Medication errors can be detrimental to a person depending on other circumstances. Because of the seriousness that medication errors can have on a person, it is important to seek legal advice if a medication error has created a serious injury to you or a loved one. Contact Teal Law Group for your initial consultation. We understand the complexities of drug interactions and are here to help.