How Can Patients Reduce Their Risk of Prescription Errors?

Posted: Nov 01, 2016 3:54 PM

Patients put a lot of faith in their pharmacists. Maybe it’s the clean, white coats or the years of training that pharmacists undergo to enter their profession. However, pharmacists are only human, and they can make mistakes just like anyone else. Sadly, a pharmaceutical error can have debilitating and possibly fatal consequences.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, clinicians have access to more than 10,000 medications. Many of those drugs cause adverse side effects.

Prescription errors take many forms including:

  • Giving a patient the wrong medication;
  • Mixing up patient names;
  • Dispensing expired medication; and
  • Dispensing the wrong dosage.

If you suffered an illness due to a pharmaceutical error, contact the Law Office of Randolph C. Wood, PLLC. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages.

Randolph C. Wood is your medical malpractice lawyer in Jackson who will evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim. Call 601-709-3584 today to schedule a consultation.

6 Questions to Ask Your Doctor before Taking a New Medication

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, most medication mistakes involve human errors. Common reasons for these mistakes include:

  • Communication errors;
  • Mixing up medications with similar names; and
  • Mixing up patients who have similar names.

Fortunately, there are steps that patients can take to prevent medication errors. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements, prescriptions and over-the-counter meds you are currently taking. If your doctor handwrites a prescription, make sure it is legible. Also, double-check the label on your medication to make sure your name, the medication name and the dosage are correct.

You can also reduce the risk of medication errors by asking your doctor and pharmacist these questions:

  1. What are the brand and generic names of the drug?
  2. What effect will it have on my condition, and when can I expect results?
  3. When should I take the medicine? How much should I take? And for how many days or weeks?
  4. Is there any food or other medications I should avoid while on this medicine?
  5. Does the drug have any side effects – and what should I do if they occur?
  6. What happens if I miss a dose or if I accidentally take more than I should?

If you were a victim of a pharmaceutical error in Mississippi, contact the Law Office of Randolph C. Wood, PLLC. As your medical malpractice lawyer in Jackson, Randolph C. Wood will help you claim the maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages.

Our legal team will help you avoid mistakes such as overlooking certain damages, making recorded statements or signing a general release. Call 601-709-3584 today to schedule a consultation.