Last time, we began speaking on the issue of medication errors, and mentioned a study which highlighted the high risk of medication errors occurring in connection with infants. Another recent study highlights the risk of medication errors from a different angle: that of health care data management mistakes.
According to a recent report by Health Data Management, health information technology can certainly help to improve the quality of patient care, but it can also result in serious medical errors when mistakes are made with its use. The types of mistakes that can arise vary, but mostly involve treatment complications, diagnostic errors and medication errors. Around 10 percent of errors fall into other categories.
Health care providers, of course, are responsible for taking appropriate measures to ensure their patients receive the proper medication and that their prescriptions are correct. Other parties can sometimes be responsible when serious medication errors occur, though, such as pharmacy staff dispensing prescription medication and nursing staff administering the medication. When pursuing litigation based on medication error, it is important for the patient and/or his or her family to pursue all potential avenues of liability.
Not every instance of medication error, of course, will make for a valid medical malpractice case, and it is important to work with an experienced attorney to have one’s case examined to determine the best course of action. In cases where litigation is viable, an experienced advocate can help build the strongest possible case with respect to both liability and damages.
