Most people in West Virginia want to believe that they can trust their doctors. While most physicians have their patients’ best interests at heart, accidents can happen at any time. Thousands of medication errors happen in the United States every year. While some errors are minor and treatable, other errors can have dire consequences. Here’s what people need to know about medication errors.
What are medication errors?
A medication error involves medication being used improperly. This may involve too much medication being prescribed. It might also involve a doctor prescribing too medications that interact negatively.
Medication errors can also happen at the pharmacy: A pharmacist may not be able to read your doctor’s handwriting and dispense the wrong prescription. In some cases, the doctor might communicate the wrong prescription to the pharmacy. If your doctor prescribes the wrong medication, you may be a victim of medical malpractice.
How can you prevent medication errors?
To prevent medication errors, you can ask your doctor questions to make sure you’re getting the right prescription. Ask for both the brand name and the generic name of your prescription so that you’ll notice right away if your prescription doesn’t look right. Ask your doctor if the medication could potentially react with other substances or medications.
You can also ask your doctor to print a prescription instead of writing one by hand. This can prevent medication errors by pharmacists who can’t read your doctor’s handwriting.
What should you do if you’re a victim of medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice can take many forms, including medication errors, failure to diagnose, failing to warn you about possible side effects and more. If you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice, you might wish to hire an attorney to help you seek compensation for damages and medical bills.
