Medication Errors

Hollywood's Dennis Quaid recently spoke to Congress regarding drug overdoses and patient's rights. He advocates for the patient's right to sue pharmaceutical companies. Heparin, a commonly administered blood thinner, has been placed on the hot seat because the packaging for different dosages is very similar. In some cases, infants have been given 1,000 times the recommended dosage! In 2006, three Indianapolis infants died because of this mistake. Each year, 7,000 people die in the U.S. Because of medication errors. (Yost, www.newsday.com, 5/14/08)

A Tucson family was awarded $6 million recently because their mother died of a morphine overdose. Upon hospitalization, she was prescribed one dosage of morphine. Then several days later the dosage was increased replacing the prior dosage. However, when she was transferred to a nursing home, both prescriptions were given to her twice a day causing her to die from acute morphine intoxication. (Flick, www.tucsoncitizen.com, 5/14/08)

Accidental overdoses and drug interactions can cause health complications or death. Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all medications, prescription and over-the-counter, you are taking to insure your personal safety. Always ask questions if you are concerned about anything relating to your prescriptions and treatment. Read all of the information provided with your prescription and all warning labels. And finally, constantly check your prescription refills to verify you have received the correct dosage and pill.