Today, unsafe medication practices and errors remain a leading cause of preventable injury in health care systems all over the world. This matter is not only an expensive problem but also exposes patients to danger.
The cost associated with these mistakes has been estimated to reach $42 billion annually. This figure highlights the persistence of this issue within the health care sector, exposing patients to fatal risks.
If you are impacted by this problem, you can seek compensation and demand punitive measures. This blog aims to provide information that may help inform your decisions if you decide to take legal action.
The dangerous health effects of medication errors
Errors can occur at various stages of medication use. They often result from compromised systems or human factors like tiredness, poor working conditions or ineffective staffing.
These issues can affect how doctors prescribe drugs and monitor their effects. The consequences can be long-lasting and severe, leading to serious harm, disability or even death.
Adverse drug events (ADEs) are among the most common preventable harmful events in healthcare. This is partly because so many people use prescription and over-the-counter medications. Doctors can choose from over 10,000 prescription drugs, and almost one in three adults in the United States takes five or more medications.
ADEs cause about 700,000 emergency room visits and 100,000 hospital stays each year. That said, patients in ambulances are also at risk. The sharp rise in deaths from opioid medications, mostly occurring outside hospitals, highlights this problem.
Addressing the impact of medication errors
Medication errors have profound and often devastating impacts on patients, health care providers and the health care system. These crucial errors can lead to severe complications, prolonged hospital stays and even death. They contribute to increased costs, erode patient trust and place immense emotional and professional burdens on workers.
The law recognizes that health care providers must provide a certain standard of care. You can take legal action when medication errors occur due to negligence or systemic failures.