The unfortunate reality among Louisville nursing homes is that medication errors are common. This trend of doctors and nurses incorrectly prescribing or distributing medication has also had a harmful impact nationwide. According to the journal The BMJ, an investigation into 25 nursing homes across the country turned up 51 medication errors in a single year.
The medications that are common in nursing homes can have powerful positive and negative impacts on a resident’s health. Too much or too little of a particular drug could cause dangerous side effects or fail to treat the underlying medical issue.
If you are concerned your loved one is the victim of a nursing home medication error, there is no time to delay. By speaking with a Louisville medication errors lawyer, you can learn about your loved one’s legal rights. We can help you hold the negligent nursing home accountable for their mistakes. Call (800) 842-6336 for a free consultation with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today.
Signs and Symptoms of Medication Errors
The scope of medication errors in nursing homes throughout the country is substantial. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has published a thorough review of the scope of medication errors leading to hospitalization or death in American nursing homes. According to their research, between 16 and 27 percent of residents nationwide suffer from medication errors. Accounting for medication errors that do not lead to hospitalization or death, the rate of medication errors is likely much higher.
Given the high risk of medication errors, it is vital that anyone with a loved one in a nursing facility understand the signs of a medication error. These signs include:
- Physical pain. One of the ways the body reacts to unusual doses of a new medicine involves body aches and pains. In cases of conflicting medications, this pain could be severe.
- New health issues. New and unexplained health problems that crop up shortly after a resident begins taking a new medication is another potential sign of medication error. Your loved one should seek medical care if these issues persist.
- The onset of an underlying condition. Some medication errors involve a person no longer getting the medicine they need. This can result in the onset of symptoms that have gone away.
- Trauma. Some drug interactions are so severe they require emergency medical treatment. This could include anything from dangerous drug interactions to allergic reactions.
How Nursing Home Medication Errors Happen
Medication errors can occur in many ways. These mistakes can result from the actions of a doctor or the inaction of a nurse. In most cases, these errors result from negligence. It is possible for rare cases to stem from an intentional act. Some of the ways that medication errors occur in nursing homes include:
Dosage Errors
It is not enough for doctors to prescribe the appropriate medication to a patient. They must also ensure that they prescribe the right dosage. When the dosage is too low, it might not treat the underlying issue. Overdosing can have serious consequences depending on the drug, including death.
Missed Doses
Many medications require a strict routine to be effective. When the staff at a nursing facility fails to adhere to a strict schedule, a resident may miss one or more of their doses. These missed doses could give doctors the impression the medication is not working.
Medication Mix-Ups
Nursing homes often have a large number of residents, and those residents have countless medical needs. For that reason, there are enormous volumes of medication that are distributed throughout a nursing home each day. When a nurse or orderly mixes up these medications, multiple residents could suffer the consequences. These mix-ups can be difficult for doctors to treat, as the resident could suffer from a reaction to a medication they were never intended to consume.
Unnecessary Medication
In some cases, nursing home residents receive medications they do not need. This can occur when understaffed nurses give a resident something to calm them down or put them to sleep. This allows the nurses to manage other residents without having to address the patient in question. Unfortunately, unnecessary medication is another opportunity for a bad drug reaction. If done on purpose, the administration of unnecessary medication or chemical restraints is a type of nursing home abuse.
For a free legal consultation with a Louisville Medication Errors Lawyer serving Louisville, call (800) 794-0444
The Benefits of Pursuing a Legal Claim
There are obvious benefits for your loved one in pursuing a legal claim related to a medication error. If successful, they could recover monetary compensation for their additional medical care, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. It is possible to recover this compensation through a negotiated settlement or obtain a favorable verdict at trial.
There are other benefits to pursuing these claims outside of potential monetary awards. By holding the nursing home, their administrators, and their employees accountable, you could reduce the chances of these errors happening again. A successful legal claim could not only recoup your loved one’s losses following a medication error, but it could also prevent another family from experiencing this difficult situation as well.
If you are ready to discuss your options following a nursing home medication error, the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is ready to help. We look forward to discussing your options and assisting in any way we can in your loved one’s recovery. Call right away for a free consultation. A Louisville medication errors lawyer is standing by to take your case and bring your family justice and a fair financial award.
Louisville Louisville Medication Errors Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Your Loved One Could Recover Compensation for Their Medication Error
If your loved one or elderly family member exhibited unusual medical side effects, a medication error might be to blame. Identifying these errors without the guidance of legal counsel can be difficult. Thankfully, the team of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is ready to help.
Your loved one has the right to hold their negligent nursing home accountable. To do so, call (800) 842-6336 for a free consultation. Working with a Louisville medication errors lawyer can make a difference in your case.
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