While doctors and nurses are not expected to be able to treat or cure all of the cases they are presented with, they are held to certain standards. People have a right to receive the same standard of care from one doctor as they would from any other similarly trained doctor. A failure to meet these medical standards is defined as medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice attorney Shane R. Kadlec fights for financial compensation for those patients who have suffered damages as a result of substandard medical care. Medical malpractice encompasses a wide range of medical services, including prescription medication.
Medical malpractice involving the wrong dosage of medication can affect our Houston, TX clients. Here, we discuss the dangers of wrong dosage, and what to do if you are the victim of medical malpractice.
How Often Is the Wrong Dosage Prescribed?
Most people are unaware of just how common medication errors are in the medical field. According to collected data, each year, approximately 1.5 million people in the United States are the victims of medication errors. Among the most common types of medication errors are drug interactions and prescribing the wrong dosage of medication.
Simple human error is the main cause of a patient being prescribed the wrong dosage of medication. In most cases, it is not that the doctor was unaware of what the correct dosage of medication should be, but rather that they misplaced a decimal point, wrote a wrong number, or accidentally added an extra zero (for example, writing a prescription for 100mg of a medication instead of 10mg).
Mistakes at the pharmacy can also lead to a patient receiving the wrong dose of a medication. If the pharmacist is rushing to fill a prescription order or the pharmacy is poorly organized, mistakes can be made. The pharmacist may also misread a doctor’s prescription or fail to check that they have processed the medication correctly.
Dangers of the Wrong Dosage
Unfortunately, what may seem like a small human error can have catastrophic consequences for the patient. Receiving too little of a medication can negatively impact treatment and prevent a patient from recovering in a timely manner. Too much medication can result in a wide range of negative side effects, including:
- Illness
- Organ damage
- Kidney failure
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Death
The most serious consequences come from wrong dosages of medications labeled as HAMs, or high-alert medications. Unfortunately, HAMs, which include sedatives, insulins, and opioids, are some of the most commonly prescribed medications.
What to Do if You Are the Victim of Medical Malpractice
If you or a loved one has suffered as the result of medical malpractice, it is important to consult an experienced attorney, such as Shane R. Kadlec, as soon as possible.
A medical malpractice suit can help clients receive financial compensation for all damages related to medical malpractice, including pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages from time away from work. A medical malpractice suit can also help others from becoming victims of careless or subpar care from those in the medical field.
Contact Us
If you have questions about how to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, or would like to learn what your best course of legal action may be after receiving substandard medical care, contact us at your earliest convenience.
Medical malpractice attorney Shane R. Kadlec will listen to the unique details of your case and recommend how to proceed to ensure you are justly compensated for your losses.
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