How to Avoid Medication Errors

Recent Medication Error Settlement
PritzkerOlsen, P.A. has recently settled a prescription error wrongful death case where we alleged that a pharmacy compounded a drug to be 10 times the prescribed dose. The three people who died after being administered this medication could not have done anything to prevent their deaths.

Our law firm has a national reputation, and our attorneys have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications. To contact an attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. for a free consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit our free attorney consultation form

Tips on How to Avoid Medication Errors

Keep a list of all medications. The list of medications should include prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, medicinal herbs and other substances you take for health reasons. This list should also note the reasons you are taking each product and any drug and food allergies you have. Take your list with you every time you visit a doctor and have him or her review it. Review the list with your pharmacist as well.
Learn about your prescription. Make sure you know the name and strength of the medication you are prescribed. Understand why you are taking a medication and learn whether this purpose is a typical purpose for the medication. Clarify any questions you have regarding the prescribed method for taking the medication and how long you should use it. Know the potential side effects of the drug and ask how your should respond if you experience them. If you are taking other drugs or health products, notify your prescribing physician and inquire whether there are any dangers related to taking the new medicine with your existing drugs. Similarly, ask if you should avoid certain food, beverages or activities while using the medication.
Make sure written prescriptions are legible. When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to read it either. Don’t be afraid to ask for a more neatly printed copy.
Verify that the pharmacy received the correct prescription. If your prescription was sent electronically to the pharmacy, make sure the name of the drug (brand or generic) and the directions for use received at the pharmacy are the same as those written down by your doctor. Pay particular attention to the spelling and dosage of the medication that you receive. Many medications sound alike and are spelled similarly. Also, minor typos or misread digits can create a significant difference in dosage. Make sure that any refills you receive are correct as well.
Keep records. Most pharmacists provide their patients with written information regarding their prescriptions. If the pharmacist did not provide written information about the medication, ask for it and keep it for future reference. If possible, fill all your prescriptions at the same pharmacy so that all of your records are in one place.
Inspect the medication you are given by your pharmacist. Look at the medication’s appearance: color, shape, markings. Smell it. Does it look or smell differently? Does it smell very unpleasant? If it is liquid, is the amount in the tube, vial, or syringe the amount you expected? If your medication is in pill form, is the number more or less than expected? Do the directions on the bottle differ from the directions provided by your doctor?
Use caution when taking medication at home. Read the bottle's label every time you take a medication to avoid mistakes. In the middle of the night, you could mistake ear drops for eye drops or accidentally give your older child's medication to the baby if you are not careful. Use the measuring device that comes with the medicine, not spoons from the kitchen drawer. If you take multiple medications and have trouble keeping them straight, use containers with sections for daily doses.
If you are hospitalized, have a family member or friend help you monitor your medication use whenever possible. You may not always be capable of taking the appropriate error-prevention measures on your own. By having a friend or family member available, you may exercise your right to have a surrogate present to monitor the administration of your medications when you cannot. You and your surrogate can work together to be informed of the purpose of each medication you take and the appropriate medication procedures to observe before and after a surgery. For example, a doctor may require that you take a prescription antibiotic before a surgery. Conversely, you may be advised to stop taking certain drugs preoperatively. At discharge, ask for a list of the medications that you should be taking at home. Have a doctor or hospital pharmacist review this list with you and be sure you understand how these medications should be taken.

If you have been harmed by a medication error or if a family member has died, you should immediately contact a prescription error attorney who will take measures to gather and preserve evidence.

Personal Injury Lawyer Home Page >>

Free Case Consultation

Medical Malpractice Topics

Pharmacy Error Settlement

Our law firm recently negotiated a settlement for the family of a woman who was given ten times the prescribed dose of cochicine.

$950,000 Recovery for Failure to Diagnose Septic Arthritis

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen recently secured a $950,000 recovery on behalf of a young man who developed septic arthritis eight days following knee surgery.

Heart Lead Extraction Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

PritzkerOlsen attorneys are representing patients and their families nationwide in product liability and medical malpractice cases involving defective Medtronic Sprint Fideles defibrillator leads. Several patients have died during surgery to remove the defective Medtronic lead.

Dental Malpractice: Oral Surgery and Burn Injuries

The FDA has recently stated that poorly-maintained dental equipment has resulted in severe burns. These cases could involve both dental malpractice and product liability claims.

Hospital Malpractice Lawsuits

Hospital malpractice includes any type of medical negligence that occurs in a hospital setting, including errors by doctors, nurses, technicians and other hospital staff.

Neurosurgery Errors

Surgical errors are common and can lead to serious injury or death. In an article in the medical journal Neurosurgery that reported on a study of 1108 elective neurosurgical procedures, a neurosurgeon recorded 2684 errors in 87.1% of the cases. 22.6% of the errors were considered major. 78.5% of the errors were deemed preventable.

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.