Roswold Law Group Blog

Medical Malpractice

1/18/2010
James Roswold
Comments (0)

Research shows prescription mistakes are common

According to recent study, one in ten prescriptions written in hospitals may contain mistakes.

A study of nearly 125,000 prescriptions written over one week at 19 different hospitals in northwest England found that 11,000 (or nearly 9%) of the prescriptions contained errors. And, almost 2% of these errors could have been lethal for patients if they were not caught.

The study was originally designed to test whether medical residents were more likely to make mistakes than more experienced doctors. Surprisingly, the mistakes were spread out. Even specialists and consultants were likely to make errors. Fortunately, many mistakes were caught before they reached patients and caused injury.

The research reflected the findings of a 2006 study done in the United States that found about 1.5 million Americans a year are harmed or killed by medication errors. These mistakes cost American nearly $3.5 billion each year.

Medical experts urge that patients understand what medications they are taking, what the drugs are for, and how they are supposed to be taken. Click here to learn how you can help prevent prescription errors.

If you are a Kansas or Missouri resident and were injured or endangered by a medication error or a pharmacy mistake, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the medical malpractice and dangerous drug attorneys at the Roswold Law Group to set up a free consultation.

Labels: dangerous drug Kansas injury lawyer Kansas medical mistakes medical injury Missouri medical malpractice prescription injury