Health care providers are held to established standards of care that are supposed to prevent most errors that can lead to patient harm. But because they are human, Illinois health care providers do sometimes make mistakes and often these mistakes are related to the misuse of medications. When a medication error occurs, the patient may suffer from short-term or long-term harm. Those who’ve suffered due to a medication error may have cause to sue for medical malpractice.
The dangers of medication errors
Medication errors are preventable events where a patient is given the wrong drug, the wrong dosage, or not given a prescribed drug as intended. These types of errors can lead to illnesses, disabilities, birth defects, and in some cases, death. There are steps for health care providers to take to prevent most medication errors.
Most errors can be prevented with diligence. Providers should verify the drug name, dosage, and patient name before administering a medication. Providers must be aware of a patient’s allergies and other medically relevant information to avoid administering a medication that could be harmful. Following these steps before each medication is administered can prevent many errors.
Medical malpractice
If health care providers don’t follow basic guidelines when administering medications, the patient can be harmed. Illinois residents who’ve been injured in some way due to a medication error may have reason to sue the health care provider for medical malpractice. A successful medical malpractice lawsuit can provide one with compensation that can be used for medical bills, costs associated with loss of work, and other injury-related expenses.
