Common Hospital Medication Errors

Serious Consequences May Lead to A Medical Negligence Claim

Hospital staff generally work under immense pressure, so unfortunately mistakes happen and here are some common hospital medication errors. These may range from giving the wrong medication or dose, or even missing a dose altogether. Failing to take a patient’s allergies into account may also have a serious effect.

While some errors may be easy to correct, other may have severe consequences and this is when a medical negligence claim may be made.

If you or a loved one have been on the receiving end of medication error while in hospital, Jefferies Claims may be able to help.

5 Common Hospital Medication Errors

Wrong Dose – Too Much or Too Little

One of the most common medication errors is when the wrong dose is administered. This can happen for many reasons—perhaps a decimal point is misplaced, or a nurse misreads a doctor’s handwriting.

If a patient receives too little of a medication, it may not be effective, leaving their condition untreated and possibly worsening. On the other hand, too much medication can lead to overdose, toxicity, or severe side effects.

An example of this may be a painkillers like morphine. If you are given too high a dose, you may experience respiratory depression. This  means your breathing slows down to dangerous levels. But, if you  receive too low a dose, you may be left suffering unnecessarily.

Missed Doses – A Dangerous Oversight

Hospitals work on strict medication schedules to ensure patients receive their treatments at the right time. But on a busy ward, it’s not unheard of for doses to be missed. This could be due to a nurse forgetting to administer a medication, a prescription not being properly transferred during shift changes, or just simple human error.

Missing doses can have serious consequences, particularly for patients with conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, or heart disease. For instance, if a diabetic patient misses their insulin dose, their blood sugar levels can spiral out of control. Likewise, if a patient with epilepsy misses their anti-seizure medication, they may suffer a seizure, which could result in injuries or even brain damage.

Wrong Medication – A Recipe for Disaster

Imagine going to the hospital for an infection and being given a drug meant for high blood pressure instead. Medication mix-ups may occur due to lookalike packaging, similar drug names, or misinterpretation of prescriptions.

Giving the wrong medication can lead to a whole range of complications, especially if the incorrect drug interacts badly with the patient’s existing medication or medical condition. For example, a patient who is mistakenly given a strong blood thinner instead of a routine antibiotic could end up with excessive bleeding, which might require emergency treatment or even surgery.

Wrong Timing – Not Just a Minor Mistake

Timing is crucial when it comes to medications. Some drugs need to be taken at specific intervals to be effective, while others must be administered before or after meals. If medications are given too early or too late, their effectiveness can be compromised.

For example, antibiotics work best when taken at regular intervals to maintain a constant level in the bloodstream. If doses are given too far apart, the medication may not fully eliminate the infection, potentially leading to antibiotic resistance.

Failure to Account for Allergies – A Potentially Fatal Mistake

Perhaps one of the most dangerous medication errors is failing to check for patient allergies. Every hospital has protocols to prevent this, but mistakes can still slip through, especially in a hectic environment.

If a patient with a known penicillin allergy is mistakenly given a penicillin-based antibiotic, they could suffer anaphylaxis—a severe allergic reaction that causes swelling, difficulty breathing, and can be fatal without immediate treatment. Similarly, patients with latex allergies could have reactions if their medication is administered through latex-containing syringes.

Medical Negligence Claims – When Errors Have Serious Consequences

When medication errors lead to serious harm, patients or their families have the right to pursue a medical negligence claim. To succeed in such a claim, the patient must prove that the hospital or medical provider breached their care of duty by making the medication error.

Compensation tends to cover medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. If you are seeking compensation for a medication error while in hospital, a medical negligence lawyer will be able to assess your case.

Our friendly team at Jefferies Claims can guide you through a potential claim. We work with highly experienced lawyers who operate on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis.  Call us today at 0333 358 3034 or visit Jefferies Claims Contact Page for a free, no-obligation consultation.