Medical malpractice can take many different forms. Doctors could commit egregious errors during surgical procedures or other forms of physical treatment. They could make easily preventable diagnostic errors by overlooking information or jumping to conclusions.
They could also make mistakes when prescribing medication. Many modern treatment plans require the regular administration of specific prescription drugs. Medications can help people limit their pain, control their blood pressure or eliminate an infection.
Unfortunately, medications do come with a degree of risk. In some cases, a doctor might prescribe a drug regimen, only for their recommendations to ultimately harm the patient. Medication errors that may constitute malpractice frequently fall into one of the three categories below.
Overlooking contraindications
Not every medication is appropriate for every patient. There are contraindications that doctors should be aware of when evaluating treatment options. The possibility of a new medication interacting with a drug the patient already takes is a concern. A history of adverse reactions to similar medications could also be reason to look into alternate treatments, as could a personal history of allergic reactions to certain compounds. Recommending an inappropriate medication based on a patient’s current status and medical history could put them at unnecessary risk.
Failing to monitor the patient
Some people have major side effects while taking typically safe medications. Others might not respond to treatment the way that a doctor expects. Physicians should generally monitor patients’ responses to treatment to make adjustments to the prescription or pursue alternate treatment options. They also need to remain in contact with the patient as they end their treatments. Patients may need support tapering off of medications known to cause mental and physical dependence. Opioid pain relievers, prescription steroids, like prednisone, and even certain mental health drugs are not safe to stop taking abruptly. Doctors who do not monitor the patient’s response to treatment might set them up for addiction, withdrawal and medical complications.
Communicating ineffectively
Physicians have to provide information to patients about the risks, side effects and success rates of proposed treatment plans. They also need to ensure that patients understand how to safely take medications. For example, people may need to avoid certain foods, like grapefruit, or certain herbal remedies while taking medications. Physicians generally need to ensure that patients understand how to appropriately and safely take the medication. They also need to take care when communicating prescription information to the pharmacy. Otherwise, the patient might receive the wrong dosage, the wrong number of refills or even the wrong drug.
Medication errors are a preventable but common form of medical malpractice. Filing a lawsuit successfully can help patients affected by medication errors cover their treatment costs, lost wages and other expenses related to their poor medical outcomes.