Some medication errors are technically dispensing errors. A pharmacist or the technicians assisting them provide the wrong drug, offer the wrong dosage or make mistakes when compounding medications intended for intravenous (IV) administration.
However, quite a few medication errors actually occur during the prescribing process. Physicians often rush to get from one patient to the next, and they can make serious mistakes when they recommend a medication to treat a patient.
What prescribing errors are common?
Frequently, doctors prescribing medications failed to properly check the patient’s records. There may be certain contraindications in their medical history indicating that the selected drug is not the right treatment option.
Prior allergic reactions to other medications, existing prescriptions for drugs that interact with the prescribed medication and even chronic medical challenges can all be contraindications that warn that a patient could have an adverse reaction to the drug.
Other times, doctors make mistakes when actively prescribing the drug. They might input the wrong medication or dosage on prescription paperwork. Doctors may fail to advise their patients of alternative options and the risks involved in taking a medication, which can constitute a violation of informed consent standards.
Finally, doctors may write the prescription and then fail to follow up with the patient. They may overlook warning signs of the patient having an adverse reaction to the drug. They might also forget the need to taper the patient off the medication when their treatment ends.
When another physician could have prevented a major medication error, the affected patient may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Holding a physician accountable for the impact of their professional failures can lead to financial relief for the affected patient and consequences for a negligent doctor or the company that employs them.
