The failure of suspending medication orders can lead to serious injuries for those taking them. If you believe this form of medical negligence was the cause of your or a loved one’s injuries, it would be a good idea to discuss your case with a medical malpractice law firm.
There are a variety of ways that medicine can be given to a patient, depending on the type it is. For example, suspension medication consists of tiny particles that are mixed with a liquid. For it to work effectively, it must be shaken well.
What Are the Dangers of Not Suspending Medication Orders?
Because the medicine particles remain suspended until mixed, failing to shake it so that it’s properly mixed could lead to a patient being undermedicated or overmedicated. If undermedicated, the condition won’t be treated sufficiently, and if overmedicated, it could result in harmful side effects.
A medical malpractice law firm, knows that certain patients are at a greater risk of suffering harmful effects. An example is a patient who suffers from a serious illness or medical condition that requires immediate treatment.
For instance, an individual with a bacterial infection may be given an antibiotic in the form of an oral suspension. If not shaken, then the suspension will not be properly mixed. Thus, the initial doses will be diluted, and as the patient ingests each subsequent dose, the medication will get stronger and stronger. This could cause twofold problems. One, the infection will not be treated properly. Two, the dosage slowly could turn toxic, which could eventually become life-threatening. This is essentially medical negligence.
Women who are pregnant or nursing could experience serious side effects, along with the fetus or baby. And patients who undergo surgery are at risk of being injured before, during and after the procedure.
Who Can Be Liable for Not Suspending Medication Orders?
Liability can found with any medical professional responsible for dispensing, administering or prescribing medication that is not suspended. This type of medical negligence is often found with doctors.
Working with so many patients and medications on a daily basis can sometimes lead to careless mistakes. Often doctors are overloaded with patients and work long hours, increasing the chance of making an error. A medical malpractice law firm that is experienced with doctors is your best bet when you have a medication order injury problem.
Nurses also may be at fault. If responsible for giving a patient medicine incorrectly, they could be liable for any resulting illness or injuries.
Liability for medical negligence could be found with pharmacists. They have a responsibility to make sure the patient understands how to take the medication. But a mistake could happen if the wrong label is put on the bottle or the instructions indicating that the bottle must be shaken are missing.
Pharmacy staff also could be responsible for suspending medication orders. Sometimes these types of medications are taken from a larger bottle and then prepared in smaller quantities. If that larger bottle isn’t shaken first, it could lead to an uneven distribution of the medication.
Adverse reactions to medication can happen for a number of reasons. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40 percent of non-life-threatening side effects are preventable. You can take control of your situation by hiring a medical malpractice law firm in Cleveland, OH, to help you file a claim.
Whether it was a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, pharmacy technician or another medical professional responsible for injuries you or a loved one sustained as a result of medical negligence, compensation could be available. Talking with a medical malpractice law firm like the Becker Law Firm can help you understand your rights when you believe there was a failure in suspending medication orders: (440) 252-4399.