When taking prescribed medication at the direction of a physician or other health care provider, Pennsylvania residents must be cautious and take the time to understand all directions for use of the pharmaceutical product to prevent medication errors. Simply double-checking labels at the pharmacy is an effective prevention tool. If a problem is suspected at any time, consult with both your physician and the pharmacist immediately. Later, consulting with an attorney may be recommended.
At least 1.5 million preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) occur because of medication errors. Medical negligence based on human error is the primary cause of prescription drug mistakes and may occur anywhere in the drug distribution system, including errors related to the accuracy and correctness of patient information. Electronic health records (EHRs) may help prevent these types of adverse medication events in several ways.
EHRs make it easier to create, update, and maintain lists detailing patient medications and allergies. Thus, they may alert all interested parties to interactions between different drugs, as well as between drugs and allergies. They allow health care providers to check automatically for problems whenever a new medication is prescribed.
Electronic health records provide necessary information for the performance of medication reconciliation during transitions of care. They also may transmit prescriptions electronically, thus reducing errors in handwriting. Since the same record may be the basis for all prescriptions, once it is correct, it is always correct until updated by the attending physician.
If you require legal counsel and assistance in litigating a claim for damages resulting from any incident of medical malpractice, including medication errors, contact Powell Law. Our decades of experience make it the clear and obvious choice for representation in all types of legal matters in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas. The attorneys at Powell Law carry on the work of a law firm that spans generations and has represented thousands of Pennsylvanians over a period of 113 years. Contact Powell Law at (570) 961-0777 or visit us online. The consultation is FREE and you don’t pay unless we win!
