According to the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, medication errors are among the most common medical errors, and they end up harming around 1.5 million people every year.
Medication errors can have devastating consequences, highlighting the critical importance of vigilance in prescribing, dispensing, and administering medications. These real-life medication errors range from incorrect dosages to dispensing the wrong drug entirely, often with life-altering repercussions. By exploring real-life cases, we can uncover valuable lessons and equip ourselves to prevent similar tragedies.
Here’s a look at shocking real-life medication error stories, their impact, and what we can do to minimize risks.
Case 1: Infant Dies Due to Miscalculated Dosage
Every eight minutes, a child experiences a home medication error, UC Davis Health says.
A tragic example of a medication error occurred when an infant from Brooklyn, Amaan Ahmmad, was prescribed an antibiotic to treat an infection. The prescribing physician inadvertently calculated the dosage based on adult parameters rather than the child’s weight. This mistake led to a fatal overdose, resulting in the infant’s death.
What Went Wrong:
- Miscalculation of the dosage
- Failure to double-check weight-based guidelines for pediatric prescriptions
Lesson Learned: Pediatric medications require extra care and precision. Healthcare professionals must always use weight-specific calculations and double-check dosages to ensure accuracy.
Case 2: A Drug Mix-Up
A 79-year-old patient was prescribed an immunosuppressant after undergoing a kidney transplant but was mistakenly dispensed a chemotherapy drug due to a pharmacy technician’s error.
The patient suffered severe side effects and delays in their treatment, as they took the wrong drug for three weeks.
What Went Wrong:
- An error was made and discovered but not reported
- Lack of a robust verification system in the pharmacy
Lesson Learned: Pharmacies should implement stringent verification processes, such as barcoding systems and clear labeling, to reduce the likelihood of errors in dispensing drugs.
Case 3: Overdose in a Hospital Setting
In a busy hospital emergency department, a nurse administered ten times the intended dose of a sedative to a patient. The mistake stemmed from a miscommunication about the proper unit of measurement. Instead of milligrams, the nurse thought the prescription was in micrograms.
The patient became unresponsive, hypotensive, and apneic.
What Went Wrong:
- Confusion over measurement units
- Lack of a system to verify the correct dosage
Lesson Learned: Hospitals must standardize communication methods and adopt electronic prescribing systems to prevent similar errors. Regular training for medical staff on dosage calculations is also essential.
Medication Error Prevention: Practical Tips
While medication errors are alarming, there are effective strategies to minimize their occurrence. These include improved systems, patient education, and vigilance from both healthcare providers and patients. Below are some tips to help prevent these deadly errors:
1. Double-Check Every Step
Healthcare providers must ensure that every prescription is carefully reviewed and verified. From doctors to pharmacists, multiple layers of oversight can help catch errors before they reach the patient.
2. Use Technology
Technology, such as electronic prescribing systems and barcoding, can reduce human errors. These tools cross-check prescriptions, flag potential drug interactions, and provide alerts for incorrect dosages.
3. Improve Communication
Clear communication among healthcare professionals is critical. Standardizing verbal orders and requiring written confirmations can significantly reduce misunderstandings.
4. Educate Patients
Patients should always be informed about their medications. This includes:
- The purpose of the drug
- Proper dosages and schedules
- Potential side effects
This knowledge empowers them to spot errors and advocate for their safety.
The Role of Patients in Preventing Medication Errors
Patients play a vital role in their healthcare journey. Here’s how they can help prevent medication errors:
1. Ask Questions
Don’t hesitate to clarify:
- Why a medication is prescribed
- How and when to take it
- Possible interactions with other drugs or supplements
If you aren’t sure why you are being given a particular medicine, or if you think the medicine looks different from your regular dose, then make sure to ask questions about it. Do not blindly rely upon your medical professional.
2. Keep a Medication List
Maintain an updated list of all medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Share this list with every healthcare provider to avoid dangerous interactions.
3. Read Labels Carefully
Always check labels and instructions before taking medication. If anything seems unclear or contradictory, consult a pharmacist or doctor.
4. Verify at the Pharmacy
Before leaving the pharmacy, ensure you’ve received the correct medication. Double-check the label, dosage, and instructions with the pharmacist.
The Impact of Medication Mistakes
Beyond the physical consequences, medication errors often cause significant emotional distress for patients, families, and healthcare providers. Feelings of guilt, anger, and mistrust can linger long after the incident.
1. For Patients and Families
Patients may lose trust in their healthcare providers, and families may struggle with guilt if they feel they could have prevented the error. Counseling and open communication can help alleviate these emotional burdens.
2. For Healthcare Providers
Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists involved in medication errors often experience guilt and anxiety, especially when errors lead to severe outcomes. Support systems, such as peer counseling and error-reporting mechanisms, can help them cope and learn from mistakes.
Creating a Culture of Safety
Preventing medication errors requires a collective effort to foster a culture of safety in healthcare settings. This includes the following tenets.
Transparency – Encouraging error reporting without fear of punishment helps identify systemic issues and prevent repeat mistakes.
Continuous Education – Regular training for healthcare providers ensures they stay updated on best practices and emerging technologies.
Empowering Patients – By actively involving patients in their care, healthcare providers can create a partnership focused on safety and well-being.
Medication Error Stories Have a Lot to Teach Us
It’s important to learn from our past mistakes, so they aren’t wasted opportunities. Medication error stories should be spoken about in medical schools and other fields so that everyone can prevent these common medication errors.
If you or your loved one has been the victim of a medication error, then it’s time for you to seek compensation for this devastating incident. Cummings Law is a Nashville medical malpractice attorney with a track record of success. Brian Cummings will fight aggressively for your rights.
Schedule a free consultation today.
Posted in: Medical Malpractice