According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), between the years 1993 to 1998, most fatal medication errors are related to the wrong prescribed dosage. The FDA also estimates that about 1.3 million people per year are affected by medication errors, leading to either injury or death. This mistake can occur anywhere within the chain of distribution – from the prescribing physician to the pharmacist who hands you the medication.
Some of the most common errors, according to the FDA, include:
- Wrong prescription
- Improper dosage
- Improper administration
- Error in drug preparation
These mistakes are often a result of poor communication, inadequate knowledge and training, similar packaging or product names, and ineffective procedures. We place a lot of trust in those who care for our health, but not everyone performs their jobs as they should. The Institute of Medicine reported that faulty systems and poor processes in the healthcare industry create an environment where avoidable and costly errors like these occur too often.
Having open and effective communication between patients and their healthcare providers can help eliminate some of these errors. Make sure that you understand why a medication is being prescribed to you. Speaking with your doctor or healthcare professional about the details of your diagnosis and the reasoning behind treatment provides clarity for both parties. It is important to take an active role in your health and asking questions, or double checking, can help make sure nothing is overlooked.
Anesthesia Malpractice
One of the most costly and damaging medication errors a doctor can make involve anesthesia. Poor anesthesia practices can lead a patient to fall into a coma or suffer permanent brain injury.
Common anesthesia mistakes often involve:
- Propofol overdose
- Versed overdose
- Midazolam overdose
- Benzodiazepine or Xanax toxicity (aka alprazolam)
Our firm has vast experience representing and winning anesthesia cases. Our in-house medical experts allow us to develop these cases for the strongest possible result in court.
At Hampton & King, our team has more than 50 years of collective experience and has a reputation throughout the south Texas legal community for providing thorough representation for those who have suffered as a result of medication mistakes. You should not have to pay for someone else’s negligence. If you or someone you love was the victim of a medication error, we can hold them accountable for their actions. Call us today at (713) 658-0231.