The most common medical malpractice error that occurs in hospitals today is medication errors. In fact it's so common that statistics show that every patient who enters a hospital can expect a medication error at least once during their hospitalization. Fortunately most of these errors do not result in any serious injury or problem. But sometimes they do. We have had cases where patients have been given heparin, a blood thinner. Only when it's given to the wrong patient under the wrong circumstances, can cause a devastating brain bleed and cause serious and permanent injury. We have had other cases where a medication such as Demerol, a common narcotic pain medication used for after surgery, results in communication problems with doctors; meanwhile the Demerol builds up in the system of the patient and leads to a death.
We handled a case involving a young individual 33 years old, who went in for a routine appendectomy and died because the doctors and nurses miscommunicated about which medications to give to the patient for his pain. So when medication errors occur in hospitals, while sometimes they are documented, very often they are not. We have to go painstakingly back through the autopsy report or medical records to find out where or how the medication error occurred. But when we do, the hospital and, or doctors are responsible then for compensation for the injury or death.
How do you know if a medication error occurred?
Many medication errors are only noted from a review of medical records after a patient is discharged from a hospital, or a nurse discovers the error before any significant injury occurs. If a significant injury to a patient result from a medication error, the hospital is required to notify the patient or family about the error and what effect it may have on the patient. Many doctors will downplay such an effect. If a medication error occurs with a patient who is suffering from multiple medical conditions, the specific medication error may be even more difficult to identify.
This is where an experienced medical malpractice attorney, specializing in medication errors is vital to a victim of medical negligence. Dr. Bruce G. Fagel is both a medical malpractice attorney and a licensed medical doctor. This experience gives Dr. Fagel the knowledge to understand medical records and determine if a medication error occurred.
