Kennedy Hodges LLP Blog

10 Medications That Often Cause Wrong Medication Drug Injuries

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Patients put an enormous amount of trust in their pharmacists. Many even pick up their prescriptions and swallow their first tablet without ever reading the label. Unfortunately, many people have been injured--or even killed--when the pharmacist made a sound-alike drug error with their medication.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has compiled a list of commonly confused medications to help both pharmacists and patients identify possible harmful medication errors before they happen. Some of the more common pharmacy errors include confusion between:

cetirizine vs. sertraline. Cetirizine is an allergy medication commonly used to treat hay fever. However, poor handwriting may cause pharmacists to fill sertraline, an anti-anxiety medication, instead.
Celebrex vs. Cerebyx. Celebrex is a pain medication commonly prescribed to relieve stiffness and swelling in arthritis patients. Cerebyx, on the other hand, is an injectable medication used to counteract epileptic seizures.
Cedax vs. Cidex. Cedax is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, including bronchitis and ear infections. Cidex is used in hospitals to clean and sterilize medical equipment.
Lodine vs. codeine. Lodine is an anti-inflammatory drug often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Codeine is an opiate used to relieve pain by relaxing pain sensors, often causing extreme drowsiness.
Benadryl vs. benazepril. Benadryl is the brand name of a powerful antihistamine, and it is often confused with benazepril, a high blood pressure medication.

If you have suffered an adverse reaction because of a pharmacy error, our prescription drug error lawyerscan get you the compensation you deserve. Call Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616 to receive a FREE consultation on your case. To learn more about your rights to compensation, click the link above and we’ll rush you a FREE copy of our special report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Texting and Prescribing: How doctors put your life at risk when using their cell phones

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

We’ve all heard of texting and driving, but did you know that texting and prescribing can also be deadly? Many doctors call in prescriptions using their cell phones and it’s awful to know that bad cell phone reception can raise the risk of medication errors and put your health into jeopardy.

Several pharmacists were interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Health and Science team and asked whether they have ever experienced bad reception when receiving prescription orders. The numbers are shocking: Over 40 percent said they had experienced this.

The dangers of doctors prescribing medication on cell phones
The interviews revealed that doctors often called in prescriptions after office hours and on the weekends, which means they are likely calling from cell phones in their car, their home, or at social events.

Some issues pharmacists reported with cell phone orders included:

Difficulty recognizing the doctor’s voice and verifying identity
Background noise from the road, home or social events
Doctors often could not answer questions about a patient’s allergies, weight, or other medications because they didn’t have the patient’s medical records on hand.
Pharmacists often did not have the doctor’s cell phone number in case they needed to call back for verification.

Some pharmacists reported that doctors on cell phones seemed distracted and eager to return to what they were doing. You can imagine how quickly important information like medication name, dosage, and even your name can easily get lost in translation.

How to take action against prescription errors
If you or a loved one suffered injuries after a prescription error you have rights to file a claim for compensation. You can contact our pharmacy error lawyers if you would like to start a free case review today at 1-888-526-7616. You can also order our free book, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means if we do not make a recovery in your case we do not get paid.

FDA says half of medications don’t include children’s dosage or safety labels

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

A new study by the Food and Drug Administration found that most medications have proper dosage information and safety labels appropriate for adults, but half of these drug labels do not list safety or dosage information for children.

FDA researchers analyzed 560 different medication labels on drugs ranging from allergy medications to high blood pressure medications. The researchers found that 54% of labels had no useful pediatric information.

Safety and dosage information for less-common pediatric conditions
Most pharmaceutical manufacturers perform safety and dosage research on adults and as a result the effects on children for certain types of medicines are unknown. The study claims that over half of drugs made with new ingredients approved between 2002 and 2008 did not have safety and dosing information for children.

The medicines that do have labels are the most common ones including asthma medications or vaccines. Certain medical conditions that are not common in children, like cancer or arthritis, are often treated with drugs that have not undergone stringent testing for dosage or safety.

The Danger of Children’s Dosage Errors
Age and weight play a vital role for doctors and pharmacies to determine the correct dose of medication for your child. A doctor may forget to calculate a children’s dose instead of an adult dose in the prescription, or a pharmacist may fail to follow dosage information for children’s prescriptions.

Children’s bodies are not developed like an adult’s and they are more susceptible to great harm because of a prescription error or children’s dosage error.

You have rights if your child was injured because of a pharmacy dosage error
If your child was harmed because of a dosage error at the pharmacy you should contact our pharmacy error attorneys to discuss your case for free today at 1-888-526-7616. Our office operates on a contingency fee basis, which means if we do not make a recovery for you, you owe us nothing.

Pharmacy errors can put a child's life at risk quickly. Learn how to avoid every parent's worst nightmare by downloading our free checklist: 10 tips to protect your kids from pharmacy errors or prescription errors

“Brown Bag” Doctor Visits Stop Medication Errors Before They Happen

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Doctors are thinking outside the box to protect their patients from suffering medication mistakes--and potential prescription drug error lawsuits--using a simple brown paper bag.

The process, called a "brown bag checkup," involves a patient putting all of his prescription drugs, herbal and dietary supplements, and over-the-counter medications into a paper bag and bringing them to the doctor's office for inspection. This way, health care providers can check for potential drug interactions, mislabeled medications, or other hazards that could cause injury to the patient.

"This should be done every year and preferably more often," says Douglas Paauw, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. "Some of my patients do it at every visit."

During the “brown bag” sessions, patients can take advantage of the opportunity to get one-on-one advice from their doctor by:

Keeping health care providers updated about their medication history as well as their physical wellness.
Presenting a list of all medications to your doctor as well as the medications themselves. Your doctor can use the list to check for errors or past medications that may cause a threat if refilled. To find out what information should be included on a medication list, patients can print and complete a free drug chart called "My Medicine Record" on the FDA’s website.
Discuss possible medication changes, including strengths and dosages, while easily seeing if the new medicine will interfere with your current regimen.

The attorneys at Kennedy Hodges are proud to provide legal advice to victims of prescription drug injuries. Call today at 888-526-7616 for a FREE consultation on your case, or click the link above to receivea FREE copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Pregnant Woman Takes Wrong Drug for a Year After Sound-Alike Drug Error

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

A sound-alike drug error went undiscovered for a year when a woman took a heart medication instead of her prenatal vitamin.

The mistake was investigated by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices’ Medication Errors Reporting Program (MERP). Researchers discovered that the woman’s pharmacistmisread the prescription. Instead of filling the prenatal vitamin Prenexa, the pharmacist gave the woman Ranexa, a medication used to treat angina by easing a patient’s chest pain caused by obstructed blood vessels in the heart.

The prescription error reporting service found that the patient went on to refill the medication each month. The error was eventually caught when it came time to renew the prescription; the patient called the pharmacy and asked them to call her doctor for a new prescription for prenatal vitamins. However, when the pharmacist checked the woman’s pharmacy profile, she noticed that no prenatal vitamins had ever been filled.

Investigators from the ISMP noted that the pregnant patient who received Ranexa refused to speak with the pharmacist when she picked up the original prescription. The lack of communication may have contributed to the error; if they had discussed the reason for taking the medication, the mistake may have been caught much earlier.

Fortunately, the patient did not suffer any harmful effects as a result of Ranexa. It should be noted, however, that prolonged exposure to a wrong medication may very well cause life-altering side effects--and if it does, you should be aware of your legal rights.

The pharmacy error injury lawyersat Kennedy Hodges can advise you on what to do after suffering a prescription drug mistake. Call us today at 888-526-7616 for a FREE consultation, or click the link above to receive a FREE copy of our special report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Was Cold Medicine to Blame for Your Child’s Drug Error Injury?

Fri, 04 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

If your child suffered an cold medicine overdose, you’re not alone. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that roughly 7,000 children under age 11 are treated in emergency rooms each year because of over-the-counter cold medications.

In 2008, the FDA issued a public health advisory recommending that over-the-counter cold products should not be used in children under age two. However, child medication errors are still a major problem. Here are some of the reasons these errors keep occurring:

Doctor errors. FDA reports have found that many health care professionals have prescribed Tussionex, a long-release cough medication, for patients younger than the approved aged group of six years and older. Doctors have also told parents to administer the drug more frequently than the labeled dosage allowance.
Overdosing. There are several ways overdosing can occur. Parents may give the medication too often, administer more than the recommended amount, or use multiple medications containing the same active ingredient. Additionally, some children take medication without their parent's knowledge - especially if they like the taste.
Measuring errors. Serious injuries, and even deaths, have occurred because the prescription contained incorrect dosage instructions, the dosage was miscalculated for the child’s weight and age group, or did not include a standard measuring device to portion the child’s dose.

If your child was injured due to an over-the-counter medication, our pharmacy error lawyerscan help. Call Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616 to learn about your legal options. We offer a FREE case evaluation.

Looking for more information on drug error injury cases? Click the link above and we’ll send you a FREE copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Painkiller Overdoses Are Often Caused by Prescription Errors

Tue, 01 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

You have probably heard stories about celebrities overdosing on prescription pain medications. The truth is, anyone could suffer a pain medication overdose in Houston--especially if your doctor prescribed a patch instead of a pill.

The FDA has issued warnings about the using the fentanyl transdermal system, an adhesive patch that delivers a powerful narcotic through the skin. Fentanyl is an opioid, a class of potentpain medicines that includes hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine, and can easily cause an overdose if the instructions are not followed carefully. For instance:

Wrongful prescribing.The FDA recommends that fentanyl patches should only be prescribed to cancer patients. However, many people have died or suffered serious side effects after their doctorsprescribed the patch for minor pain issues or did not check if the patient was opioid-intolerant.

Improper counseling. Patients who were not counseled on the proper use of the patches were likely to suffer an overdose of fentanyl. Many were confused about when to apply the patches, how often to replace them, or they applied heat to the area around the patch--all of which could cause dangerously high levels of fentanyl in the blood.

If you have suffered a medication overdose due to a pharmacy mistake, our Texas pharmacy error attorneyscan get you the compensation you deserve. Call Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616 to receive a FREE case evaluation, or simply submit the contact form on this page.

Want more information? Click the link above and we’ll send you a complimentary copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Why adverse drug events occur and how you can prevent against them.

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Recent reports issued by the FDA about drug-drug interactions (DDIs) stated that combining prescription cholesterol drugs with some antiviral drugs like protease inhibitors can lead to adverse drug events. The FDA warns patients to stay away from these combinations.

ADRs and negative drug-drug interactions are on the rise and can occur in a number of ways, which include:

Wrong prescribing by physicians,
Mistakes made by nursing staffs,
Poor descriptions by drug manufacturers,
A pharmacy mistake.

What is a drug-drug interaction?
Drug-drug interactions are considered adverse drug events that occur when medications interact dangerously, which can cause serious side effects, complications, and in extreme cases, even death.

An example of a DDI is when someone is prescribed a combination of drugs that could dangerously interact with another drug. The doctor and pharmacist fail to catch the interaction and a patient can be injured severely because of the interaction.

How pharmacies overlook dangerous drug combinations
ADRs can be easily overlooked by busy pharmacy staff. Even the software in place to detect these errors often inundates pharmacists with alerts to combinations that are not dangerous, often leading pharmacists to dismiss many other, yet potentially dangerous, alerts.

You can take steps to prevent these dangerous combinations, including:

Make sure your doctor and your pharmacists are aware of all the medications you are taking,
Double check your prescriptions with the pharmacist.
Seek medical attention if you suffer extreme side effects from any medication.

If you suffer an ADR or drug-drug interaction because of a pharmacy error then you can file a claim for compensation of any injuries sustained as a result of a pharmacy mistake.

Contact our personal injury lawyers at 1-888-526-7616 to start a free case review today. You can also order our free book to learn more: How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Three Surprising Causes of Fatal Texas Prescription Drug Errors

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

You’ve no doubt heard constant stories on the news about patients receiving the wrong medication or wrong dosage of a drug from the pharmacy. While serious, these types of mistakes are just the tip of the iceberg.

Some of the lesser-known ways patients suffer fatal overdoses due to medications are:

Potential diet and drug interactions. Some foods and drinks can intensify a drug’s effects or render them ineffective. Grapefruit juice, for example, inhibits enzymes that break down many drugs, overloading the patient’s liver and leading to unintended overdose.

Combining several medications with similar properties. It's not uncommon for a person to take many medications that all treat different conditions, but what many people don’t realize is that their medications may have the same effect on the body. Depression drugs, pain medications, and sleeping pills are all taken for different reasons, but they're all sedatives--and when taken together, they could cause a fatal overdose.

Mixing alcohol and medicine. Many people are aware that mixing alcohol and prescription drugs is dangerous, but in some cases, it can lead to overdose. Some cough and cold medicines already contain alcohol, and if a patient takes them within a few hours of drinking, they could suffer alcohol poisoning.

Our Texas pharmacy error attorneysknow that patients may not be able to recognize the dangers of drug interactions. Pharmacists must inform patients of all drug risks--and take responsibility when they don’t.

If you have suffered a drug interaction injury in Texas, our prescription drug attorneys can help. Call Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616 for a free consultation on your case, or click the link above to receive a FREE copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

New Jersey Hospital Makes a Near-Fatal Psychiatric Medication Error

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

A recent investigation has revealed that many patients suffered wrong doses of powerful drugs, adverse reactions to medicines, and multiple overdoses while admitted to Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Winslow, New Jersey between 2006 and 2012.

The Asbury Park Press investigation began after 27-year-old Sean Denning was rushed to the emergency room after suffering an adverse drug reaction at Ancora. Denning’s medical records state that he suffered Depakote toxicity and a possible reaction to Lithium, both of which were administered at Ancora.

Denning spent the next several weeks in a hospital bed, suffering organ failure and respiratory problemsbefore doctors were finally able to restore his health.

Denning was the second Ancora patient to be hospitalized for an overdose at Ancora since December 2011. Ellen Lovejoy, the spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services, has said that another patient suffered similar circumstances as a result of "reactions to medications" received inside the psychiatric hospital.

28-year-old hospital resident Derrick Raymond attested to the frequency of psychiatric medication mistakes at Ancora. Raymond said that patient files have been in disarray since he began treatment in 2002.

"I've had my files mixed with other people's," Raymond said. "I could have been given the wrong medication. You start to feel like a guinea pig for medications in there."

If you have suffered a wrong drug dosage injury, our prescription drug error lawyerscan get you compensation for your suffering and the income you need to support your family. Call Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616 for a FREE consultation on your case.

Want more information on prescription medication mistakes? Click the link above and we’ll rush you a FREE copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Rising Cases of Nursing Home Over-Medication Worries Symposium Leaders

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the use of anti-psychotics to “control” nursing home patients is far from uncommon. The FDA estimates that roughly 15,000 nursing home patients die each year as result of unnecessary--and unprescribed--anti-psychotics.

Such practices, called “chemical restraints,” are illegal, but they are still rampant in the nursing home industry. Sylvia Taylor Stein of the Long Term Care Services of Ventura County ombudsman program reported Thursday that about 25 percent of the residents in California's nursing homes are given antipsychotic drugs, calling attention to the abuse epidemic in a statewide symposium.

The Oxnard conference, called "Toxic Medicine,"was co-organized by and the Long Term Care Services of Ventura County and the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, and included several assisted-living administrators, nursing home staff and supervisors, elder abuse lawyers and state licensing agencies.

Speakers said that these drugs are given in nursing home facilities for dementia, but are administered without the informed consent of residents and are used as a restraint rather than to treat psychiatric conditions. The drugs are regularly given by caretakers without any sort of approval, and can double the risk of death for seniors and cause side effects ranging from stroke to delirium.

Attendees believe that there are several reasons this abuse continues. One contributing factor is that staff shortages make it nearly impossible for employees to properly care for patients. Another is that many doctors have a drug-first mentality when it comes to long-term care.

The board-certified drug injury attorneys at Kennedy Hodges can help get your loved one justice. For a FREE consultation on your wrong medication lawsuit, call 888-526-7616 today or click the link above for a free copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Pharmacy mistakes in the hospital can lead to life-altering consequences

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Hospitals are a busy place and pharmacy medical errors occur every day, putting children, adults and the elderly at risk every day of medical mistakes. A medical mistake in the pharmacy can lead to permanent, life-altering injuries. In some cases, it can even lead to death. If you are injured because of a pharmacy mistake you can take steps to protect your rights.

Case in Point
Man sues hospital for being injected with green clothing dye
A Chicago patient seen at Northwestern Memorial Hospital has filed a lawsuit against the hospital for alleged IV medication errors. The lawsuit claims the hospital injected him with green clothing dye.

The 34-year-old Chicago man claims he went to the hospital for an angiogram, which often includes injecting patients with a fluorescent dye used to make it easier to view blood cells. According to the suit, the drug administered did not have FDA packaging and that doctors had called for “IC Green,” which comes in a powder form. The dye injected into the patient was a liquid. The pharmacy allegedly pulled the clothing dye and medical staff did not catch the error.

The man claims he suffered permanent lung damage to his because of the dye and also developed a seizure disorder which he may have to treat with medication for the rest of his life. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, seeks compensation for $450,000 plus attorney's fees

How to take action against medical mistakes
If you or a loved one have been harmed because of a medical mistake or a pharmacy error you have rights to recover compensation for your injuries. Order our free pharmacy error book to learn all you need to know, or call our office toll-free at 1-888-526-7616 to start a free case review today with our Houston medication mistake lawyers.

$8.25 million settlement for Illinois couple whose newborn died from wrong IV dose

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The largest settlement for an Illinois pharmacy error case was just announced after a Park Ridge hospital agreed to pay $8.25 million to a couple whose baby died after receiving a fatal sodium dose in his IV.

The baby was born premature in 2010, but survived despite weighing 1 pound, 8 ounces. When he was 40 days old the hospital pharmacy made a fatal dosage mistake and the newborn received a fatal dose of sodium chloride in his IV after heart surgery. The baby died after receiving the dose.

An investigation showed the hospital pharmacy error occurred because the dosage for the boy’s IV was entered incorrectly into the machine that mixes IV solutions.

Couple files wrongful death suit over wrong dosage mistake
The parents of the baby filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.
The lawsuit claimed that the hospital pharmacy made an error which resulted in their child receiving a dose 60 times the amount prescribed by the doctor, which caused the baby to go into cardiac arrest and die.

The hospital recently offered to settle the case for $8.25 million — the largest settlement in Illinois for this case type, according to reports. According to reports, the hospital has made changes in its procedures in order to prevent similar mistakes from occurring in the future.

What to do if your family suffered a hospital pharmacy mistake
If you or someone you love is harmed by a hospital pharmacy error or a wrong dosage error you should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. You may have a legitimate claim against the pharmacy, the doctor or the hospital. If you want to learn how to take action contact our pharmacy error lawyers at 1-888-526-7616 to start a free case review today.

Free resources for victims of pharmacy error
You can order our free book to learn more: How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Texas court approves $158 million settlement in Risperdal fraudulent marketing case

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The state of Texas and Johnson & Johnson got court approval for an agreement to settle claims over fraudulent marketing of Risperdal. In the approved agreement to settle the lawsuit, filed by the state attorney general, the drug maker will pay $158 million to the state and its Medicaid program.

J & J aimed to make people believe Risperdal was safe for children and the elderly

Claims in the Texas case included that the company defrauded Texas’ Medicaid program by marketing Risperdal for unapproved uses, including for children with psychiatric disorders. And for claims the manufacturer concealed the severity of Risperdal side effects.

We’ve written before about the Risperdal lawsuit. Johnson and Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals allegedly aggressively marketed Risperdal for off-label uses in adults and children, including kids as young as two diagnosed with ADD and ADHD, for senior citizens with dementia, to treat bi-polar disorder, or stuttering.

After reports of unsafe side effects, certain states brought lawsuits against the drug companies for alleged fraudulent marketing of Risperdal. J&J and its Janssen subsidiary lost trials in South Carolina and Louisiana over Risperdal marketing.

Many patients suffered severe side effects including,

tardive dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movements similar to Parkinson’s Disease),
diabetes,
weight gain, and
slowing of mental processes.

Some of the side effects were temporary, but many were permanent.

J&J and its Janssen unit deny any wrongdoing

But many companies state that settlements like these represent a resolution to claims, not an admission of any guilt. The case is a reminder that just because a drug company markets a new prescription does not mean it is safe.

Do you need a Risperdal lawyer?
If you or a loved one suffered severe side effects because of a prescription drug contact our prescription drug lawyers to start a free case review today. Large corporations will make the process of demanding compensation for the harm you’ve suffered very complicated. Contact our experienced personal injury lawyers to start your potential claim today.

Simple Mix-Ups are a Major Cause of Pharmacy Error Lawsuits

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, roughly 10 percent of all medication errors were a result of drug name confusion. These mistakes often happen when a medical professional mistakes similar trademarked or generic names, such as Toradol and tramadol.

But these errors go beyond sound-alike and look-alike mistakes. In some cases, doctors will abbreviate a dosage medication in a way that causes confusion, or the pharmacist will misread a handwritten scrip.

Here are just a few more communication medication mistakes that can have dire--or even fatal--consequences:

Abbreviations are often misread, such as when IU (international unit), is mistaken for 10
Outdated acronyms on a label are dangerous, since BT (bedtime) can be mistaken for BID (twice daily)
Similar dose designations, such as q.d. (every day) and q.o.d. (every other day)
Symbols can often be misinterpreted, such as “Rx” or “%” may be misread as “repeat” or “100”

In addition to these everyday risks, there are often mix-ups between two completely different medications when doctors or pharmacists write in their own hand. For example, the oral diabetes drug Avandia looks similar to the common anticoagulant Coumadin when they are written in cursive: the capital "A" in Avandia, may look like a "C," and the final "a" may appear to be an "n." These mistakes can be hard to detect--and therefore correct--since the names don’t look similar when they are printed.

For more valuable information on prescription drug error lawsuits,click the link above to get a FREE copy of our book, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

If you’re ready to get started on the road to recovery, we can help. Call Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616 to start your free consultation with one of our board-certified drug injury lawyers.

Do Pharmacists Know What Causes Prescription Drug Errors?

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

No matter how much the staff apologized after your pharmacy error, you were still understandably shaken. A harmful drug error not only causes injury, but is far too easy a mistake to make--and the chances are good that it will happen again. So how can a pharmacy be sure that it is doing all it can do to prevent medication errors?

A study done by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists found that there were a number of factors that contributed to these mistakes. By paying close attention to common causes, the pharmacist and staff can take steps to minimize risks and potentially eliminate many harmful mistakes in the future.

In order to prevent harmful medication errors, pharmacists should be aware of the following risk factors:

1. Day shifts. There are higher error rates during daytime work shifts.

Staff training. Poorly trained or inexperienced staff was a common problem.
Multiple medications. The more medications a patient takes, the greater the chance of error.
Distractions. Environmental factors such as lighting, noise, and frequent interruptions affect the error rate.
Staff workload. Fatigue and multi-tasking can cause staff members to make mistakes.
Communication problems. Miscommunication or lack of dialogue between staff and health-care providers contributed to patient harm.
Improper drug storage was found to cause harmful side effects.
Drug packaging. Confusing product names, package information or labeling may lead to dosage mistakes.
Poor handwriting from doctors and pharmacists is a common source of error.
Verbal orders. Spoken orders should be avoided to prevent “sound-alike” errors.

As trusted pharmacy error injury lawyers, we realize that improvements in the system are necessary, but they won’t happen overnight. Victims continue to suffer prescription error side effects every day, losing income and gaining expensive medical bills.

To get a free consultation on your drug injury case, call Kennedy Hodges today at 888-526-7616, or click the link above to receive a FREE copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Hospitals could reduce medication errors by doing one thing: Using checklists

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The number of patients who die each year from preventable hospital errors amounts to four full jumbo jets each week.

There are many steps along the way where errors can happen: A nurse mistakenly administers the wrong dose of medicine; a doctor’s handwriting is too messy and a pharmacy fails to double check the prescription. All of these mistakes can be extremely dangerous and even fatal, yet they are usually totally preventable.

A report from the AARP revealed that many hospitals have started using one simple procedure to reduce the number of errors that occur: using checklists. It is amazing that such a simple method that could reduce errors has not been utilized widely in hospitals.

Michigan hospitals save 1,500 lives by using a simple checklist
According to the report, when Michigan ICU’s began using a five-step procedure checklist for handling catheters there was a 66% infection reduction rate, saving over 1,500 lives and $200 million.

Your family is at risk of medication errors every day.
Unfortunately, everyone is at risk of pharmacy errors and hospital medication errors. Children, adults, and the elderly can all be put at huge risk once a hospital or pharmacy is involved in your care. Humans make mistakes, but in this profession preventable mistakes are completely unacceptable.

Take action against pharmacy errors today.
Order our free book to learn your rights after a medication error. If you or a loved one were harmed because of pharmacy negligence our pharmacy error attorneys have written a book that can teach you how to hold pharmacies accountable for their mistakes. Order now: How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Drug Name Confusion Causes Many Medication Errors

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

There are thousands of drugs available on the U.S. market, each with a generic name and a trademarked name. You couldn’t possibly be expected to know them all, or even be able to tell them apart.

Unfortunately, many doctors and pharmacists have the same problem.

According to the FDA, roughly ten percent of all medication-related injuries are a result of drug name confusion. Side effects from these kinds of mistakes can range from nausea to organ failure, and in some cases, can cause wrongful death:

One 19-year-old man in treatment for schizophrenia suffered early signs of fatal complications after being given clozapine instead of olanzapine.
A 50-year-old woman was prescribed Volmax for bronchospasm, but given Flomax--a medication used to treat enlarged prostate. The mistake sent the woman to the hospital for corrective treatment.
An 8-year-old patient was given methadone instead of the attention deficit disorder medication methylphenidate, and died as a result of the error.

What do each of these preventable drug errors have in common? In each case, the names of the drugs that were mistakenly given looked or sounded similar to the prescribed medication--a simple mistake that had dire consequences.

The prescription drug error lawyers at Kennedy Hodges make it their mission to protect victims of harmful medication mistakes. If someone you love has suffered due to a pharmacist’s mistake, call us today at 888-526-7616 for a free consultation on your case.

Not sure you need a lawyer? Click the link above and we’ll rush you a FREE copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Victims Most at Risk of Prescription Drug Errors: Children and the Elderly

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Nobody wants to suffer a prescription drug error, but when it happens to you, you’re thankful you were able to get through it without any permanent ill effects. However, if it had happened to your child or your parent, they may not have been so fortunate.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the patients most likely to be hospitalized for medication-related injuries were people older than 65. Young people were next in line; one in five emergency cases due to medication mistakes involved children or teenagers.

There are a few ways you can protect your family from suffering a wrongful death due to medication error. The following list has helpful questions to ask your loved one if you suspect a drug error has occurred:

How do you feel? Get him or her to talk about any and all symptoms, even if the victim doesn’t think they are serious.
When did you start to feel different? Find out when your loved one took the last dose of the drug.
Where is the medication bottle? Check to make sure your loved one’s name is on the label of the medication, that the dosage is correct, and that the pills inside match the medicine’s description.
What else are you taking? Check for possible interactions with over-the-counter drugs and supplements.

Remember: if you believe your relative is experiencing an adverse reaction to a medication, always seek medical advice. If your Texas pharmacy error resulted in an injury, you can get legal advice from a board-certified prescription error lawyer today by callingKennedy Hodges at 888-526-7616 for a free consultation.

For more information, click the link above and we’ll send you a FREE copy of our book, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

Children Given Breast Cancer Medication Instead of Fluoride in New Jersey

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

CVS Pharmacy is under fire for mistakenly handing out breast cancer medication instead of fluoride tablets to children in Trenton, NJ.

Officials at CVS Caremark acknowledged the mistake, saying they discovered that a number of children in the area had accidentally received Tamoxifen, an estrogen-blocking cancer treatment, instead of the fluoride they had been prescribed to fight tooth decay.

The pharmacy does not know exactly how many children were given the wrong prescription between December of last year and February 20, but they estimate that up to 50 families could have been affected.

The two tablets are similar in size, shape and color, but the fluoride pills are meant to be chewed. Tamoxifen is usually swallowed, and the difference in taste may have been a factor in discovering the error.

Pharmaceutical expert Daniel Hussar, a professor with the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences, said that it is unlikely the mistake will cause long-term health problems for the children.

CVS Caremark released a statement on Friday saying that the company was "deeply sorry for the mistake that occurred." Company investigators have not yet determined the cause of the error.

The affected families have reported no injuries or illnesses.

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