According to the Centers for Diseases Control, 82 percent of Americans take at least one medication every day. This number represents millions of people and millions of prescriptions to be filled. Prescription mistakes can be very dangerous. If a person takes the incorrect dosage of a medication, the person could suffer side effects, and the error could even be fatal. In Rhode Island, pharmacists take steps to avoid these types of medications errors, but some cases still slip through the cracks.
A prescription error could originate with the doctor, or it could happen at the pharmacy. The pharmacist who fills the prescription will typically have a multi-step process during which he or she will check the medicine, the dosage, the doctor, the instructions and any potential interactions. If the physician has made an error, the pharmacist may be able to catch it by looking at the patient's medical records. If the pharmacist makes the error, he or she may still catch it during the checks.
Individuals certainly still experience incorrect dosage of medications, however. Some do not notice until they start to observe harmful side effects. Experts recommend checking the medications closely, and if the person notices any differences or has any other questions, to feel free to ask the pharmacist.
Individuals in Rhode Island may still struggle with the results of prescription mistakes if the physician or pharmacist makes an error. If a person is injured and suffers damages as a result of the error, he or she may be able to recover any losses from the responsible negligent party. Many people in this situation choose to hire a personal injury attorney for help with their cases.
Source: thv11.com, "Pill peril: How pharmacists make sure you get the right medication", Erika Ferrando, Feb. 5, 2018
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