Many elderly residents of nursing homes require daily medications, often several times a day. Families enlist the care of nursing homes in order to ensure that they receive the proper supervision that they need for their health and safety. A large part of that includes receiving the proper medications, in the correct dosages, at the proper times throughout the day. If an elderly resident fails to receive their correct medication at the proper time, it can lead to severe illness or even death.
If your loved one suffered an injury or medical issue related to a medication error while they were a resident in a nursing home, consider visiting with our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336 to learn how a Detroit medication errors lawyer can help you learn how you can seek justice for your elderly loved one.
Medication Errors as Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing homes must ensure that their elderly residents receive the proper medications at the correct time. Failing in these responsibilities can result in serious medical complications or even fatalities. According to the StatPearls, up to 9,000 people die every year as a result of medication errors.
Senior residents of nursing homes have an even greater risk of complications resulting from medication errors due to their increased overall frailty and age. Because nursing home residents remain unable to administer their own prescription medications, they must rely on the nursing home staff to provide medication to them correctly and on a timely basis. Some of the ways that nursing homes can negligently prepare and administer medications include the following:
- Incorrect preparation of medications
- Incorrect counting or dosage of medications
- Improperly preparing medications that need to be crushed instead of cut, etc.
- Failing to provide food or water with medications
- Failing to give the correct medication to the correct resident
- Overdosing or underdosing a medication to a resident
- Failing to order the correct medication
- Using expired medications
- Suspension medications provided with air bubbles while administered
- Failing to notice if a resident has dysphagia or choking issues and administering a medication that may cause choking
- Failing to store the medication correctly (refrigeration, etc.)
- Failing to record the dosages and times a resident received a medication
- Failing to administer the medication in the correct way
- Failing to administer the medication at the correct time
- Failing to ensure that the resident actually consumes the medication
- Understaffing and overworked nursing home employees leading to mistakes and errors involving medications
- Complete lack of training or knowledge regarding pharmaceutical medications
- Confusion of one prescription with a similar name with a different prescription medication
- Replacing one medication with another due to a shortage
- Making a medication error as a result of illegible or poor handwriting or poor charting
- Confusion between staff members resulting from a shift change or turnover in the staff
- Improper labeling or abbreviation of names of medications
- Transcription errors in prescription medications
If you suspect that your elderly loved one received medication in error at their nursing home, immediately alert the management. If there is not a swift response and action taken to determine the actual events surrounding your suspicions, you may want to involve either Adult Protective Services or even law enforcement, depending on the facts and circumstances.
Additionally, consider speaking with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to learn how a Detroit medication errors lawyer can help you prove that a medication error occurred and caused your loved one to suffer injuries and losses.
Consequences of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
The consequences of medication errors in nursing homes can vary widely. In some cases, there might not be any serious consequences. However, in other cases, the consequences can result in either mild discomfort or serious medical complications.
Some of the consequences of medication errors include internal organ damage, overdose, paralysis, brain damage, stroke, gastrointestinal issues, heart attack, fluid imbalances, sedation, confusion and cognitive issues, allergic reactions, orthostatic hypotension, blood clotting or bleeding, or even death.
For a free legal consultation with a Medication Errors Lawyer serving Detroit, call (800) 794-0444
Nursing Home Medication Errors and Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, some medication errors result in fatalities to nursing home residents. If your loved one died from a nursing home medication error, you might qualify to pursue medical costs, funeral costs, and pain and suffering.
Your lawsuit against a nursing home can hold those responsible accountable for their actions and ensure that this never happens to another family in the future. This does not negate the tragedy of losing a loved one, but it can help your family handle the aftermath of their passing.
Detroit Medication Errors Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Consider Working with a Detroit Medication Errors Lawyer
If your loved one suffered from a medical complication or died from a medication error while receiving care in a nursing home, consider working with a Detroit medication errors lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Call us at (800) 842-6336 to help understand all of your legal rights and how you can seek justice on behalf of your elderly loved one.
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