Medication Name Mix-Ups Considered Medical Malpractice

It can be difficult to accept and come to terms with a medical mistake or error made by your doctor. Given their extensive education and practice in medicine, patients trust doctors to provide proper care without mistakes. However, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are human and can make errors, sometimes with life-threatening and long-term consequences. One of the most serious mistakes these professionals can make is mixing up medication names, which can endanger a patient’s life and potentially lead to a medical malpractice claim.

Why are medication name mix-ups dangerous?

Medication name mix-ups are dangerous for several reasons, including:

• Allergic reactions: Many people are allergic to certain medications. Therefore, if a person is given the wrong medication, there is a possibility that they could develop an allergic reaction. When allergic reactions occur, individuals end up in the emergency room, hospitalized, or sometimes even pass away as a result.
• Failing to treat medical conditions: When a patient is given a medication that is not meant for them, they most likely do not have the medical condition or illness that the medication is meant to treat. Therefore, the medical condition or illness that they sought medical attention for will be left untreated. As a result, their health may become worse.
• Causing medical illnesses: Taking the wrong medication can make a person ill, especially if the medication is not needed for their condition. Prolonged use of the wrong medication can lead to lifelong and permanent complications, medical illnesses, or disabilities.

Are there certain medications that are prone to mix-ups?

According to an article published in The Healthy, medications are frequently mixed up because they either sound or look very similar. Some common medications that are often mixed up include:

• Labetalol and Lamotrigine
• Methadone and Methylphenidate
• Metolazone and Methotrexate
• Hydralazine and Hydroxyzine
• Chlorpromazine and Chlorpropamide
• Clomiphene and Clomipramine
• Clonidine and Klonopin
• Toprol and Topamax

When you receive a prescription, it is crucial to read the label on the bottle, read the notes from the doctor and pharmacist, and take a look at the medication inside. Medications with similar names are prone to being mixed up. Therefore, by taking these extra steps to be cautious before putting any medicine into your body, you may be able to prevent a serious allergic reaction or illness from occurring from taking the wrong medication.

How to prove that your medication name mix-up is medical malpractice

To prove that your medication name mix-up is medical malpractice, you must show that negligence occurred. To successfully do this, you will need to establish the following:

• Medical provider/patient relationship: The first factor is that you must prove there was a relationship between you and the medical provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist) who made the error. This relationship can be between you and a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or any other medical provider who mixed up or provided the medication. However, you must have significant proof that you were under that individual’s care at the time of the error.
• Breach of duty: Next, you will need to establish that the provider breached their duty to keep you safe and harm-free. If a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist gives you the wrong medication, you can show that they did not provide the standard of care that any other professional with the same level of experience would have provided, which is a breach of duty.
• Causation: You will then need to prove that the provider directly caused or contributed to your medical condition, illness, or injury.
• Losses: Lastly, you must show proof of the losses you suffered due to the medication name mix-up. This may be lost wages, medical bills, loss of quality of life, disabilities, pain and suffering, and more.

If you have been harmed by a medication name mix-up, the Memphis medical malpractice lawyers at Bailey & Greer are here to help. Many people ignore these errors because they may seem small or minor. However, our team knows and understands the temporary and permanent effects that they can have on people. If you have accumulated additional medical expenses, taken time off work, or experienced pain and suffering due to a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist’s mistakes, please call our office or complete our contact form today. We offer free consultations and will be happy to meet with you whenever you are ready.