How Can I Avoid Prescription Mistakes?

Prescription Mistake Puts Orlando Woman in the Hospital

Posted on April 08, 2015 by Shapiro Law Group

Prescription medications that millions of Americans take on a daily basis can cause serious injury or death if the wrong dosage or medicine is taken. This scenario unfolded for an Orlando woman when her pharmacy incorrectly filled a prescription for allergy medication, instead giving her medicine diabetics use to lower blood sugar. The pharmacy later claimed it had difficulty reading the doctor’s handwriting.

Due to taking the wrong medication, the woman’s blood sugar dropped to a dangerous level and she had to be hospitalized. Doctors later told her she could have gone into a coma. After receiving $15,000 in medical bills and a refund from the pharmacy, the woman has explored other options for compensation.

Unfortunately, prescription mistakes are commonplace. According to estimates from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, as many as 1 in 20 prescriptions are filled incorrectly. However, there are tools to help patients avoid these potentially fatal errors.

How Can I Avoid Prescription Mistakes?

Patients have several options for identifying medications to ensure that the dosage and label are correct. Upon receiving a prescription from the pharmacy, ask the pharmacist for a consultation on the medication. The story mentioned earlier in our post might have been avoided had a brief discussion ensued between the pharmacist and patient.

Reliable online databases can also identify medications. Patients can use the National Library of Medicine’s “pillbox” website, which can identify medications by imprint, shape, color, drug name, and size.

Individuals harmed by prescription mistakes do not have to settle for a refund from the pharmacy and might have options to pursue compensation for injuries, hospitals bills and other lost income. Our readers can learn more about prescription mistakes by visiting our webpage. For regular updates on Shapiro Law Group and how we help injured individuals and their families, please follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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