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Reducing Prescription Medication Errors

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In 2004, the state assumed control over Hope High School in Providence in an effort to reverse the high failure and dropout rate among its pupils, many of whom were low-income students. The reform effort included dividing the high school into three separate academies and implementing block scheduling, which allowed teachers “common planning time” to organize their lesson plans and identify struggling students. Since the reforms were implemented, the school’s graduation rate has increased dramatically.

But the Providence School District effectively eliminated the reforms at Hope High earlier this year by instituting a uniform curriculum in all its schools. Four hundred students walked out to protest the move.

Providence lawyer Miriam Weizenbaum is representing a group of Hope High students who sued the school district in June with the aim of restoring the system they feel is essential to student welfare. Weizenbaum spoke with Lawyers Weekly’s Allison McAndrew and Matt Yas about the case.

Complications of Drug Errors

Taking a prescription medication that has been dispensed incorrectly may cause harm to the patient. Whether the physician has written a prescription for the wrong medication out of error or the filling pharmacy has dispensed the wrong medication, the effects can be hazardous:

  • The medication dispensed in error may interact with a medication that you are already taking and cause adverse reactions.
  • You may have an allergic response to the medication.
  • The medication may cause harmful side effects.
  • The medication may be dispensed in a dosage that is lethal for the patient’s body weight.
  • The pharmacy or doctor may have failed to give you the proper information on how to take the drug correctly.

Catching drug errors as they happen can help prevent these consequences.

How to Prevent Prescription Drug Errors

By checking your medication carefully, you may be able to prevent the harmful effects of taking the wrong medication. Here are some things that you can do to spot a medication error:

  • Double check with your physician and pharmacist that you are being given the appropriate medication for your condition. If you are still unsure, don’t be afraid to speak to another physician or pharmacist.
  • Always check your medication before you leave the pharmacy. If the medication looks different for any reason, ask why. If you have a new medication, go online to ensure that you were dispensed the proper drug.
  • Keep all of your prescriptions at one pharmacy so the pharmacist is able to double check for any duplicate medication or drugs that interact with one another.
  • Make sure that you understand all of the side effects and adverse reactions of each medication that you are taking.

Safe Use Initiative

In order to combat the growing number of prescription errors and unintended exposure to medication, the FDA has organized the Safe Use Initiative. This plan creates a platform for all medical professionals to collaborate in order to reduce the occurrence of preventable problems due to medication misuse.

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a prescription error, it is important to contact an attorney who has the knowledge and experience to handle the situation. You can get the compensation you deserve from your injuries, damage as well as pain and suffering when a professional attorney is on your side.