Professionals in the medical field have a duty to provide the best possible care to patients. In short, they should improve the condition of those facing illness or injury — not make matters worse.
Most of the time, this is precisely what they do. Unfortunately, those who practice medicine are also human, which means they can make mistakes. One common type of mistake that patients have to deal with is medication errors. Mishaps in the prescription of medication can have life-altering consequences and can even be fatal. Identifying the common root causes of medication errors could assist with prevention.
Giving the wrong type of drug
It is pivotal that patients are given the appropriate drug to tackle their ailments. For numerous reasons, most commonly misdiagnosis, the wrong course of treatment may be administered to patients. Taking the wrong type of drugs can be dangerous. Furthermore, receiving the wrong treatment means that the appropriate medication has not been administered in a timely fashion, which could result in the original condition worsening.
Prescribing the wrong dosage
Even when the appropriate course of medication has been identified, it must be administered in the correct amounts. Being given a dosage that is too much for your body to handle can make you seriously ill. Conversely, taking a dosage that is too small means that the drugs are not being given the chance to work at their full capacity.
Professionals in medicine tend to work in teams that are under high pressure. Even a simple breakdown in communication between team members can have lasting consequences for patients. If you feel that you have been let down with your medical treatment, you should explore your legal options in the state of Washington.
