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Medication Error Law
Medication Errors (medical error) Law is a subset of Medical Malpractice law which can result in severe and permanent injury or death. These types of errors can occur at any point during the process of selecting, prescribing and dispensing medications. It can be the administration of the wrong drug, prescribing the incorrect dose of a drug, bad interactions with other drugs that shouldn’t have been prescribed together and various other accidents, mistakes and problems related to medication. The most common errors are those made by the nurses and doctors when administering medication, although pharmacy error contributes to this problem as well.
Medication errors are responsible for over a million fatalities or severe injuries in the U.S. each year. These types of errors are a preventable hazard in nursing homes, out-patient facilities, hospitals, clinics and surgical centers. Medication reconciliation is an important policy for dealing with the increased risks present during transition periods of medical care, such as admissions, transfers within and discharges from hospitals and other medical institutions. It dictates a thorough comparison of patient medication orders in these situations to avoid dosing errors, drug interactions, duplications, omissions, etc.
Visit our Torts and Personal Injury Law page for information on issues regarding wrongful death and state statutes regarding limitations for filing personal injury claims.
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Articles
- Veterans Suffering from Unexpected Source of Injuries: OvermedicationA battlefield is a dangerous place, and tens of thousands of US military veterans have come home from Iraq and Afghanistan with injuries suffered on the battlefield. Naturally, many seek treatment at Veterans Affairs hospitals. But, CBS News reports that some veterans are dying of accidental overdoses of narcotic painkillers at a much higher rate than the general population.
- Medical Malpractice Whistleblower Case Against Wyeth Pharmaceuticals SettledThe immunosuppressant drug Rapamune was at the center of a lawsuit which was recently settled for $257.4 million.
- The Dangers of Sleeping PillsAccording to WebMD Health News, sleeping pills are dangerous. A doctor reporting to the news agency has likened them to smoking cigarettes. Even taking a sleeping pill once in awhile leads to increased health risks.
- Communication Errors Are #1 Cause of Preventable Birth Injuries30 Percent of all Birth Injuries Are Preventable.
- Medical Errors Can Be Prevented and Patient Safety ImprovedAlthough medical literature frequently reports computerization of medical records, barcoding for medications, evidence-based medicine, and other approaches can reduce medical errors, practitioners and institutions have not embraced them very speedily.
- UCLA Medical Center Received Failing Grade for Patient SafetyThis article discusses the recent failing grade UCLA and other hospitals received for hospital safety. This also covers a problem independent groups are seeing with hospital safety and patient injuries.
- Boy Wears Braces For 11 Years, Sues Orthodontist for MalpracticeMedical physicians are not the only profession that have to worry about medical malpractice suits. Dentists, chiropractors, and psychiatrists are also vulnerable to malpractice suits if neglect can be proven. Recently, an orthodontist was sued for having a patient wear his braces for 11 years. The patient is now claiming neglect due to permanent damage done to the inside of his mouth and jaw.
- Overview of Lyme DiseaseWhat exactly is Lyme disease? What causes it and how can it be treated? Continue reading to learn more about this common and serious condition. In the U.S., Lyme disease is the sixth most common notifiable disease. Although cases of Lyme disease can occur throughout the country, 96% of the cases occur in thirteen states in the upper Midwest and the northeast.
- Anesthesia Errors and Injuries from Medical NegligenceAnesthesia mistakes happen with major operations as well as with common elective procedures. An anesthesia error can cause severe permanent brain damage or death to a patient. Anesthesia errors happen every day in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and surgical centers. Anesthetists and Anesthesiologists play a vital role in surgeries.
- Gastric Bypass Surgery Complications from Medical MalpracticePeople considering a gastric bypass procedure need to understand that gastric bypass surgery is major abdominal surgery and with all surgeries comes risk of serious injury or even death. Gastric bypass surgery modifies a patient’s digestive system reducing the amount of food a patient can eat.
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Medication Error Law - US
- FDA - Medication Errors
FDA receives medication error reports on marketed human drugs (including prescription drugs, generic drugs, and over-the-counter drugs) and nonvaccine biological products and devices.
- Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act)
In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines what requires a prescription.
- National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency—making important medical discoveries that improve health and save lives.
- Prescription Drug Marketing Act
- United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a non–governmental, official public standards–setting authority for prescription and over–the–counter medicines and other healthcare products manufactured or sold in the United States.
