Medical malpractice can happen at any point in treatment, including medication. Doctors are trained in the stages to follow in medication administration. When a mistake occurs, a patient may experience severe consequences.

This guide discusses how medical errors happen:

Illegible handwriting

Doctors are renowned for their hard-to-read handwriting. This is because they write a lot of notes quickly and use their hands often. However, one should take time when writing a prescription. Illegibility and unclear abbreviations can lead to confusion and, in turn, cause a medication error.

Workload

Some doctors have a significant workload that can make them write the wrong medication for a patient. For example, a doctor who treats many patients daily, writing prescriptions for each, can be tired and make a mistake.

Ordering prescriptions online

Technology has changed how the medical field works for the better. Patients can now order prescriptions online and take them to a pharmacy to get medications. However, if a doctor doesn’t take the time to learn more about the patient, they may prescribe medications they are allergic to. A wrong prescription is another mistake that can happen.

Similar drug names

Medical errors can be common with similar-looking or sounding drug names or those in packaging with similar features. These errors can endanger a patient because they can take the wrong medication or use the wrong dosage.

Pharmacists should be careful not to make this mistake. It may also help if a doctor can inform a patient not to confuse the two medicines in question. This way, they will be cautious.

Medication errors are dangerous. If you or your loved one experienced this type of medical malpractice, it’s wise to learn as much as you can about your legal rights and options.