Medical malpractice involves negligence or significant deviations from best practices that result in patient harm. Surgeons could face accusations of malpractice if they leave foreign objects in a patient’s incision at the end of a procedure. Doctors working in an emergency room could face malpractice allegations if they ignore patients’ self-reported symptoms and fail to order appropriate diagnostic tests.
Errors can also occur when treatment regimens involve prescription medications. Physicians should be diligent when using medication to manage symptoms or treat the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms. Any of the three mistakes below could potentially constitute malpractice, particularly if they result in provable negative consequences for a patient.
1. Recommending the wrong drug
There are many contraindications for different prescription medications. In some cases, an existing prescription might interact with a new medication, making it dangerous for the patient. Other times, the patient may have previously had an allergic reaction to a drug in the same class of medication with a similar formulation. Physicians should review a patient’s medical records carefully to ensure that the drug they recommend is appropriate and that there are no obvious contraindications for that prescription.
2. Failing to monitor treatment
Prescription drugs are not panaceas. Every patient reacts differently, even when the medication has a high success rate. Physicians should monitor patients to see how effective the treatment is. They should also check for any problematic side effects. Even the process of ending a prescription drug regimen may require medical oversight. Patients on drugs ranging from psychiatric medications and steroids to pain relievers may need to taper off their medications to safely end treatment. Otherwise, they could be at risk of withdrawal or could develop substance abuse disorders.
3. Overprescribing medication
Some drugs are dangerous if taken in excessive quantities. Others can prove habit-forming or even physically addictive. Doctors should recommend an appropriate amount of medication without being overly generous. Giving a patient too high of a dose, too many pills or excessive refills could lead to them abusing the medication themselves. They could also give away or even sell their excess medication, which could lead to tragedies.
If medical doctors do not follow best practices while prescribing drugs or overseeing treatment, they may ultimately be at fault for the resulting harm that a patient experiences. Identifying medication errors could be the first step toward holding a professional accountable. A medical malpractice lawsuit can potentially change the way a doctor practices medicine and can compensate patients harmed by poor prescribing habits.