No
one really knows how many patients receive incorrectly dispensed
prescriptions annually. However, what is known is that:
-
In
2002, researchers found medication errors in one in five
doses administered in 36 health-care facilities in two states.
-
The
Institute of Medicine reports that hospitals alone are responsible
for medication errors that cost more than $2 billion annually.
-
More
than 7,000 patients died from medication mistakes in 1993,
up from just under 3,000 deaths in 1983, according to a
university study.
The
health-care industry has embarked on improving medication
dispensing by appointing pharmacists to hospital treatment
teams and using computerization to verify prescriptions, doses,
and timing.
Patients
can take an active role in making sure they get the right
prescriptions. When picking up any medical prescription:
-
Ask
the pharmacist to verify that the prescribed medication
has been dispensed for the medical condition it will control.
-
Confirm
the correct manufacturer, form, quantity, strength, and
use schedule.
-
Question
the physician or pharmacist about potential side effects.
-
Carefully
read all accompanying literature to obtain effective treatment.
-
Comply
with all directions.
-
Check
with the physician if there are any questions.
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A
misfilled prescription
Verify
medication correctness with every refill. A diabetic woman
who had taken a blood pressure-reducing medication for years
was mistakenly given tablets with twice the dosage that the
pharmacy’s label indicated. After taking an increased dosage
for several weeks, she suffered severe reactions and required
hospitalization. Although her daughter discovered the medication
error and the patient resumed normal dosages, she suffered
a fatal heart attack. Her son and daughter sued on behalf
of her estate, alleging the pharmacy was negligent and caused
wrongful death by misfilling a prescription. Upon retrial,
a jury awarded damages.
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