What Are the Most Common Medication Error Injuries?

Phoenix, Arizona, is a warm, sunny city with beautiful desert views and a fast-growing population. It’s a great place to live and work. Like in many big cities, people in Phoenix go to doctors and hospitals every day to get help when they’re sick or hurt. Most of the time, healthcare workers do a great job. But sometimes, things go wrong, especially with medications.

Medication errors can cause serious injuries. If you or a loved one were hurt because of the wrong medicine or the wrong dose, a Phoenix medication error lawyer can help you understand your rights and what steps to take next.

But what kinds of injuries do these mistakes usually cause? Let’s talk about that in very simple words.

What Is a Medication Error?

A medication error happens when something goes wrong with the medicine a person is supposed to take. This can happen in many ways, like:

• Giving the wrong medicine
• Giving the wrong dose (too much or too little)
• Giving medicine to the wrong person
• Giving medicine at the wrong time
• Not warning the person about side effects or allergies

These mistakes can happen at the doctor’s office, in the hospital, or even at the pharmacy.

Common Injuries Caused by Medication Errors

Medication mistakes can lead to many different kinds of injuries. Some are small, but others can be very serious, even deadly.

Allergic Reactions

Some people are allergic to certain drugs. If a doctor or nurse gives medicine without checking for allergies, the person might have a bad reaction. This can cause:

• Trouble breathing
• Swelling of the face or throat
• Rash or itching
• In some cases, death

Overdose

Taking too much of a drug can be very dangerous. It can cause:

• Trouble breathing
• Heart problems
• Seizures
• Passing out (loss of consciousness)
• Kidney or liver damage

Sometimes, the person needs to go to the emergency room right away.

Underdose (Too Little Medicine)

Giving too little medicine can also be a problem. If the dose is too small, the medicine may not work. This can cause the illness to get worse or not go away at all.

For example, if someone has an infection and gets the wrong dose of antibiotics, the infection can spread.

Organ Damage

Some medications can hurt your organs if given the wrong way. The liver and kidneys are most at risk. Taking the wrong drug or too much of it can lead to serious damage that might last forever.

Internal Bleeding

Blood-thinning drugs (like ones for heart problems) can be very helpful, but if the dose is wrong, they can cause bleeding inside the body. This can be very dangerous and hard to stop without emergency help.

Brain Injuries

Certain medication errors can lead to brain injuries. For example:

• Not getting seizure medicine on time
• Giving the wrong insulin to a diabetic
• Giving pain medicine that’s too strong

All of these can lead to confusion, coma, or brain damage.

Key Takeaways

• Medication errors happen when the wrong drug, dose, or timing is used.
• Common injuries include allergic reactions, overdose, organ damage, and brain injury.
• Even small mistakes can lead to serious health problems.
• These errors can happen at hospitals, clinics, or pharmacies.
• A medication error lawyer can help you if you or someone you love has been hurt.