When a family makes the difficult decision to place a loved one in a nursing home, they rely on the facility and its staff to provide their loved one with the medical care and treatment they need. This includes the care and treatment regimen necessary to maintain the resident’s health and quality of life. In most cases, the family of a nursing home resident relies on the nursing home staff to properly administer the resident’s medications. Unfortunately, medication errors in nursing homes are not uncommon and can lead to severe health complications. If your family member or loved one was seriously injured or killed because of a nursing home medication error, your family might be entitled to compensation. The nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Robenalt Law can evaluate your situation, explain your options, and fight for the compensation your family deserves.

Led by founding attorney Tom Robenalt, Robenalt Law is a staunch protector of the rights of nursing home residents. We have earned a reputation for achieving outstanding results on behalf of our clients. Attorney Robenalt began his career working for an insurance defense law firm, where he learned first-hand how insurance companies and their lawyers evaluate and defend nursing abuse and neglect cases. Today, he uses that experience to fight for families of people who were injured or killed due to nursing home abuse or neglect.

To put our experience to work for you, contact Robenalt Law today to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to discuss your citation and how we can help.

What Is a Medication Error in a Nursing Home?

Nursing home residents and their families rely on nursing homes and their staff to make sure residents receive the medications they need. These medications improve a resident’s quality of life and, in many cases, are vital to ensuring the resident’s survival.

A medication error refers to any mistake made while preparing or administering a resident’s medication. A resident who is improperly medicated can suffer from severe mental or physical health problems.

Common types of medication errors in nursing homes include:

• Giving the resident the wrong medication
• Giving the wrong dose (too much or too little)
• Administering a medication that has passed its expiration date
• Giving a resident a medication that was not prescribed to them
• Administering injectable medications in the wrong area of the body
• Failing to ensure the resident actually takes the medication (common when residents take medications in pill form and the nursing home staff fails to observe whether the medication is taken)

Causes of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes

The frequency of medication errors in nursing homes is surprising. Medication errors in nursing homes are frequently caused by:

• Understaffing
• Pharmacist errors
• Illegible prescriptions
• Lack of training
• Poor understanding of the resident’s medical history
• Confusion about the correct way to administer the medication
• Poor communication between medical providers
• Misdiagnosis of the resident’s condition
• Lack of understanding of how a drug will interact with other medications the resident is taking
• Improper storage or organization of medications
• Lack of patient identification procedures

Consequences of a Medication Error in a Nursing Home

The consequences of a medication error in a nursing home can be severe and may include:

• Worsening Condition. Taking the wrong prescription medication can result in the resident’s condition being left untreated, which can lead to an adverse outcome. Other times, taking the wrong prescription medication causes other, new symptoms.
• Hospitalization. In severe cases, a resident may need to be hospitalized to treat complications caused by a medication error.
• Adverse Drug Reaction. In cases where the resident receives the wrong drug, the resident may experience an adverse reaction to the drug. Or, the improperly administered drug may interact with other drugs, causing an adverse reaction.
• Dizziness and Falls. A medication error could cause a nursing home resident to become dizzy, drowsy, or experience low blood pressure. These symptoms can result in a fall that can have dire consequences for an elderly nursing home resident.
• Psychological Distress. A medication error can have results that extend beyond the physical. A nursing home resident may experience psychological distress or feel unsafe, anxious, distressed, or depressed. They may lose trust in the people who are supposed to care for them, which can lead to negative health outcomes and other adverse consequences.
• Death. In the most extreme cases, a medication error can result in the death of the resident.

What To Do If You Suspect a Medication Error in a Nursing Home

If you believe a family member or loved one suffered because of a drug error in a nursing home, Robenalt Law can help. During your initial consultation, we will ask questions about your family’s situation to understand the nature of the medication error and the effect it had on your loved one. We can request and review copies of the nursing home medical records and provide advice on how to move forward. We can negotiate with the nursing home to obtain a fair resolution to your claim. When necessary, we have the experience, resources, and expertise to take your case to court.

Contact a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney at Robenalt Law

Robenalt Law has offices in Cleveland and Columbus, and handles nursing home abuse and neglect cases throughout Ohio and nationwide.

Call our Cleveland office at (216) 223-7535 or our Columbus office at (614) 695-3800 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.