When most people think of prescriptions, they think about their monthly trip to the pharmacy to pick up their medication. However, a large portion of the prescriptions written and filled each year in the United States originate and are delivered in hospitals. Each year, there are thousands of instances when a prescription is delivered in error to a patient at their bedside while in a hospital. For several years now, those involved in the health care industry have been searching for safer ways of delivering medication to patients.
According to a health care industry news source, some hospitals are implementing a new technology when delivering medication to their patients. The technology is called radio frequency identification (RFID), and it is what is used in drive-through toll booths that have become popular in recent years. The technology allows for a “proximity scan” to pick up information that is held in computer chips, called RFID chips. These RFID chips can hold all kinds of information, including a patient’s required prescriptions as well as their frequency and dose.
One of the hospital executives behind the push for the use of RFID chips explained to reporters that when humans are involved, there is always the potential for error. With the increasing use of technology, it is hoped that the instances of prescription drug errors will drop in the coming years.
What Is a Pharmacist’s Duty to His Patients?
Pharmacists, like other medical professionals, have an affirmative duty to provide the proper level of care to all of their patients. Of course, this includes ensuring that the drugs administered at a patient’s bedside are actually the ones that the patient has been prescribed. Notwithstanding this duty, each year there are thousands of cases where a pharmacist makes an error, resulting in a patient taking an unprescribed medication.
In many of these cases, the patient suffers no real harm. However, in a substantial percentage of cases the patient suffers a serious injury, and in some cases the patient can even die from either a negative reaction to an unprescribed medication or from a failure to receive the medication that they were prescribed. In cases of serious injury or death, the pharmacist who filled the prescription may be held liable by the victim or their family in a court of law.
Have You Suffered from a Pharmacy Error?
If you or a loved one has recently suffered from some kind of serious pharmacy error after being provided with an incorrect medication, you may be entitled to monetary damages. Keep in mind that these cases are often complex and time-consuming. They also require a special knowledge base. Make sure that you consult with a dedicated pharmacy error attorney prior to proceeding with your case. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation with an attorney experienced in medical malpractice and pharmacy error cases.
More Blog Posts:
Five Dangerous Drug Combinations That Can Cause More Harm Than Good, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, June 1, 2015.
Medical Journal Recommends Physicians and Pharmacists Convert Completely to the Metric System to Avoid Medication Errors, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, May 4, 2015.