What Is an Adverse Drug Event?

Human error occurs in all workplaces – it’s inevitable. Humans are not robots, and we are capable of making mistakes. However, what would happen if that mistake was irreversible? Human errors deal much more damage in certain industries compared to others, such as in medicine.

When a person is harmed after taking medicine, it is called an adverse drug event, or ADE. Although we’re supposed to consider medications safe when we’re in a medical professional’s hands, too many dangerous reactions have occurred under incorrectly dispensed medications, which can lead to permanent disabilities or fatalities.

In a recently conducted study, one research team determined that adverse drug events accounted for 39% of adverse event type prevalence in hospitals. In our nation, 3% to 7% of all hospitalizations occur due to ADEs. While the exact number may always go unknown, there is no doubt that these drug events are preventable. It’s estimated that around half of all ADEs are fully preventable. Clinicians typically have access to over 10,000 types of medications, so when one-third of all American adults are taking at least five medications or more, these numbers may come as no surprise.

There are various ways in which an ADE can take place while in a healthcare setting. Heparin, for instance, is an anticoagulant that is administered intravenously. It is considered one of the highest-risk medications used for inpatients. This is because there is a lot of constant monitoring that needs to be done for the patient regarding the blood’s clotting capability. The dose provided to the patient depends on how much they weigh. If this dose is either too high or too low because the calculation was not done correctly, there could be bleeding or clotting complications. If an overdose were detected by lab results, but a medical professional failed to notice or respond, an ADE could take place. This situation could lead to many issues, such as stroke, heart attack, or death.

Three types of adverse drug reactions

There are three types of adverse drug reactions, or ADRs: dose-related, allergic, and idiosyncratic.

• Dose-related adverse drug reactions occur when there was an error involving how much of a certain medication was given. These are most often observed with medications that have a narrow therapeutic index. This means that they are essentially meant to do what they are supposed to do with a particular dose. Any slight change in that dose can mean that there will be a profound impact. There is only a “narrow” window in which the dose can be adjusted before a reaction will take place. There is little predictability with these types of medications.
• Allergic ADRs have nothing to do with dosage. They require prior exposure to medication. In other words, they may not occur on the first dose of a medication, but the patient will react on the second or third dose. Symptoms can include rash, itching, difficulty breathing, and hypotension.
• Idiosyncratic ADRs tend to be unexpected. This is the least common type of reaction where there is a genetically determined abnormal reaction in a patient. They do not occur because of the amount given or due to any allergy.

Adverse drug events and medical malpractice

The impact of an adverse drug event can be traumatic and devastating for you and your entire family. The side effects could be serious enough that they force you to miss time at work, leading to debt and other issues paying bills. You have the ability to recover compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, and other expenses related to the injuries caused by the ADE.

In order to be successful in a medical malpractice case stemming from an ADE, you will have to prove negligence, which involves four areas:

1. The defendant was directly involved in prescribing, instructing, or administering the medication
2. The defendant committed a mistake when dealing with the medication
3. You, the plaintiff, suffered an injury from the medication
4. The mistakes made by the defendant led directly to your injuries and you incurred damages as a result

It is not easy to prove negligence in a medical malpractice case, which is why it is in your best interest to speak to a Little Rock medical malpractice attorney. There are a lot of mistakes you can make trying to recover compensation on your own. An experienced attorney will know where to look for evidence, which expert witnesses to secure for your case, and how to present yourself in court.

What to do if you were affected by a drug event

If you’ve experienced or are currently suffering an adverse drug reaction, there are some steps you should take. The first thing is first: seek medical attention right away. Once you have been treated for the reaction, contact an experienced Little Rock dangerous drug attorney immediately. The sooner a lawyer can get on the case, the better an outcome can be. Your attorney will begin to gather evidence by interviewing you, obtaining your medical records, and speaking to medical personnel. They will help prove that the injuries you’ve sustained were truly due to the mishandling of the medication by medical staff. They will determine how much you should be compensated and they’ll assist you in fighting for that settlement.
Adverse drug events are much too common in our nation. If one has a medical emergency, they should be able to proceed to the emergency room knowing that they’re going to be treated — not damaged further. If you or a loved one has been affected by a drug event, do not fight it alone. Let the Little Rock medical malpractice attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC fight for you. It may seem like a difficult fight going up against an entire hospital organization, but our team is full of experienced attorneys that are ready to help you. Please call our office or complete our contact form today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How Common Are Operating Room (OR) Fires?
• What Are “Never Events?”
• Can I Sue a Hospital for My Injuries?
• What Are the Most Common Medical Malpractice Errors?