Health Risks Associated with Incorrect Dosing of Common Medication
July 19, 2018Physicians must consider a wide range of information when prescribing medication. They must weigh the benefits of the drug with the potential side effects, as well as any risk factors that the patient might have. The physician must then determine the exact dosage amount that will be both effective and safe. Researchers from Stanford University » Read More
Risk of Commonly Prescribed Drugs
June 28, 2018As we age, we become more susceptible to certain medical conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, urinary incontinence, and depression. One treatment option for these conditions is the use of anticholinergic drugs, which block the effects of the chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other nerves. However, a recent study found that the anticholinergic » Read More
Automated System Detects Medication Errors
March 29, 2018Medications can control pain, manage high blood pressure and cholesterol, and help treat serious diseases like cancer. However, when a medication is not administered correctly, it can jeopardize the health and safety of the patient. According to a study published in JAMIA, researchers from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have developed a real-time, automated » Read More
Epilepsy Medication May Be Problematic for Pregnant Women
January 24, 2018Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that can cause unpredictable seizures. It affects people of all ages and covers a wide range of seizure types, including generalized onset seizures, focal onset seizures, and unknown onset seizures. One of the drugs commonly used to treat epileptic seizures is topiramate. However, when a doctor prescribes topiramate to » Read More
Opioids Responsible for Most Medication-Related Malpractice Claims
January 16, 2018Opioid analgesics are an effective pain management medication that physicians use to treat moderate to severe pain in patients who may not respond well to other medications, including over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Unfortunately, they are also responsible for more medical malpractice claims associated with drug errors than any other class of drug. According » Read More
Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
December 18, 2017The average nursing home patient is often prescribed multiple medications to treat and manage the health conditions common among older patients. If a healthcare professional prescribes an incorrect dose or administers a medication that is known to have a negative interaction with a drug the patient is already taking, it can cause serious harm to » Read More
Opioid Painkillers and Malpractice Claims
November 7, 2017It is no secret that the opioid epidemic in this country is a major problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 33,000 of the 52,000 fatal drug overdoses in 2015 were from opioids. Since the early ‘90s, there has been a rise of nearly three times more prescription pain medication options » Read More
Patients Want More Information About Drug Side Effects
August 21, 2017Doctors prescribe medications to their patients in order to help treat and manage a wide range of conditions and illnesses. Ideally, the medication is effective at treating the condition without causing any unpleasant side effects. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Doctors have a responsibility to warn patients about potential side effects that » Read More
Disclosing Medical Mistakes May Reduce Malpractice Costs
July 31, 2017When a patient has been injured or has passed away as a result of a medical mistake, the standard operating procedure that doctors have followed has been to deny any wrongdoing and defend their care. For the patients who suspect negligence, and pursue a medical malpractice case, it can be a long, stressful, and emotional » Read More
Study Reveals Medication Errors Doubled
July 28, 2017A recent study published in the journal, Clinical Toxicology, reported that medication errors leading to adverse health outcomes have doubled since the year 2000. Doctors, pharmacists, and healthcare workers are responsible for 1.5 million medication errors each year in the United States that leave patients facing emergency situations, hospitals stays, and in some cases, death. » Read More