Pediatric Medication Errors
Most cases of medical malpractice are not as obvious as a surgeon operating on the wrong body part or emergency room physicians telling a patient who is suffering obvious signs of appendicitis to go home and tough it out. Sometimes it is as simple as a doctor prescribing the wrong dose of a medication that is indicated for the patient, or a pharmacist or nurse misreading the prescription and dispensing or administering the wrong drug. Medication errors among the most common medical errors. In fact, at nursing homes where nurses administer hundreds of doses of medication each day, regulators consider the nursing home to have a perfect record of medication accuracy if the rate of errors is less than three percent. Most of the time, a single dose of the wrong medication or of too much of the right medication does not cause serious adverse effects. Medication doses are often based on the patient’s weight, though, so the smallest patients are the most vulnerable to serious consequences from medication errors. If you are the parent of a young child who became seriously ill because of a medication error, contact a Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice attorney.
Palm Beach County Infant Hospitalized After Doctor Prescribes Excessive Dose of Medication
Like many babies, they suffer from acid reflux, and doctors prescribe famotidine, a medication that reduces stomach acid. Famotidine is the 33rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, and under the brand name Pepcid, it is available over the counter as an acid reflux remedy for adults. The trouble is that the dose one infant’s doctor prescribed was too high for a three-month-old infant of his size.
The infant’s mother administered the medication according to the instructions on the prescription bottle, but she became concerned when he became ill. He vomited several times and was unusually fussy. After consulting some friends, she took her baby to the hospital. Doctors admitted him to the hospital and confirmed that the high dose of famotidine was the cause of his illness. His condition improved after doctors discontinued the famotidine, and he was well enough to go home after a brief hospitalization.
News reports did not indicate whether the parents have filed a medical malpractice claim. They have the right to sue the doctor or pharmacy for medical practice and to seek compensation for the medical bills that they incurred because of the adverse effects from the medication. Since his adverse effects were relatively minor, it is likely that, if the parents file a medical malpractice claim, the defendants’ insurance will be able to settle it without going to court. Medical malpractice lawsuits require many stages of pretrial preparations, and most cases settle during one of these phases.
Set Up a Consultation Today
A personal injury lawyer can help you get justice in a medical malpractice case where you received a dangerously high dose of a prescription drug. Contact Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale, Florida or call 954-566-9919 to explore your potential recovery options today.
Sources:
sfl.media/prescription-error-sends-boca-raton-infant-to-hospital-raises-concerns-about-pediatric-drug-safety/
nbcmiami.com/news/local/boca-raton-mother-says-infant-son-ended-up-in-the-hospital-due-to-prescription-error/3666027/
