Medical malpractice occurs when a physician does not follow best practices and harm results. Negligence is often the underlying cause of malpractice allegations. Doctors fail to do what is necessary for the best patient outcomes or do something that directly contradicts current best practices. Some malpractice allegations arise because of surgical errors or diagnostic issues. Other times, allegations of malpractice stem from medication errors.
Why do physicians with specialized training make mistakes regarding prescription medication?
1. Too many patients
Modern medical facilities demand that doctors see a large number of patients every day. A doctor facing back-to-back appointments may reach improper decisions and may rush through the prescribing process, resulting in mistakes that other doctors may have caught, such as writing down the wrong medication or dose.
2. Lack of sufficient chart review
Physicians generally need to be aware of a patient’s medical history when developing a treatment plan. Allergies to similar medications, poor responses to other drugs in the same family and even family history can influence the best medication to prescribe.
If doctors don’t dedicate enough time to reviewing a patient’s chart, they could easily make a mistake when prescribing a medication. They might prescribe a drug that has a known interaction with another medication the patient takes.
3. Outdated medication information
Failing to track changes to best practices regarding certain drugs can also lead to prescribing errors. Physicians may be unaware of new contraindications or side effects reported by the manufacturer.
When medication errors occur at the prescribing stage of a patient’s care, the physician who issued the prescription may ultimately be liable for the harm they cause. Connecting poor medical outcomes to prescribing errors can help patients demand accountability from physicians and their employers. A medical malpractice lawsuit can provide financial relief for patients negligently harmed by medication.