Common Drug Errors Made By Chicago Pharmacists
Sometimes pharmacists make mistakes with medication that can lead to medical issues. These mistakes can range from incorrect dosages to administering the wrong medication. These errors can have serious consequences, such as allergic reactions, organ damage, or even death in some cases. In order to seek justice and compensation for the harm caused by these errors, it is important to find a qualified attorney who specializes in medical negligence.
If you are in the Chicago area and have suffered an injury due to a pharmacist’s mistake, you should hire a Chicago medical negligence attorney. Such an attorney is knowledgeable in the complex laws related to medical negligence and will help you pursue a legal claim to get you the compensation you deserve. They will investigate the circumstances of the incident, gather evidence, and work with you to build a strong case. A Chicago medical negligence attorney will also help you understand your rights and guide you through the legal process.
Miscalculating Prescription Amounts
A pharmacist can be at risk of a drug error when they make a mistake calculating the amount of medication required for a patient’s prescription. This can occur when a pharmacist misreads the prescription or when the dosage on the prescription is not clearly labeled.
A common example of this error is when a pharmacist misreads the prescription as “2 mg,” but in fact, it is a “1 mg” dose. The patient is unaware of the error, and they end up with an underdosed dose, which can lead to dangerous side effects.
Mislabeling Medication
Another common error that can occur is when a pharmacist mislabeled medication. This can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, a pharmacist may have mislabeled medication due to not knowing how to properly label medication or labeling medication incorrectly.
A pharmacist might also mislabel medication because it was accidentally placed back into the wrong bottle, or because they forgot to check the label before putting it back into the bottle.
Drug Inspection Errors
Pharmacies have strict policies regarding drug inspection. Inspections must be performed at least once a month on each medication cabinet, and any medication that has been recalled must be removed immediately from the pharmacy. The pharmacy is also responsible for keeping track of all recalled medications.
Inspections should be performed regularly to ensure that any medications that are out of date are removed from circulation. This includes any expired medications that could still be in circulation. In addition to removing expired medications, pharmacies must also check all prescription bottles for errors before they are dispensed to patients.
Common Drug Errors: Selling Expired Medication
Another common error that can occur is when pharmacies sell expired medication to patients. This is an especially dangerous situation because many patients are unaware that certain medications expire and therefore take them home with them. If the medication is expired and taken home, it could potentially cause serious side effects or even death.
The pharmacy must not sell expired medications unless the expiration date has been verified and it has been verified that the medication has not yet expired. The pharmacy must also have a signed copy of the patient’s prescription if they are selling medication. They must also keep a record of all sales, including the date and time of sale, and what was sold. They must also notify the patient of any conditions associated with selling expired medications, such as possible side effects or a possible shortage of medication in the future.
Not Providing Patients With Proper Usage Information
Another common error that can occur is when a pharmacist fails to provide patients with proper usage information regarding their medication. This can occur because the pharmacist was not able to accurately read the prescription or because they failed to review the patient’s medical history. This could lead to prescribing a higher dose than necessary or prescribing an incorrect medication entirely.
Common Drug Errors: Bad Reactions To Mixing Prescriptions
Pharmacies are required by law to ensure that any medications being mixed are approved by the FDA and are safe for use. If a pharmacist mixes medications without checking to see if they are safe for use, this can lead to dangerous side effects or even death. They must also ensure that any medications being mixed are clearly labeled with both their brand name and generic name so that they don’t mix up dosages or even potentially overdose patients who do not realize they were given the wrong medication.
Pharmacies are responsible for ensuring that each patient receives the correct amount of medication needed for their needs and that they do not make any mistakes while dispensing medications to patients. These common errors can be dangerous for patients who take these medications, and pharmacists must ensure that these mistakes do not occur in their stores.
