Nursing Home Medication Errors Lawyer
Medication errors are a common form of medical malpractice. Even in nursing homes, major errors can occur, resulting in side effects, medical issues, and even death.
Unfortunately, these errors are on the rise in nursing homes as staff shortages lead to neglect and misuse of medications. While state inspectors are to perform investigations on a regular basis, nursing home staff continue to make errors on a regular basis.
If this has happened to your loved one, you need to seek legal help right away. Contact Allen Law Firm for assistance with your nursing home case. See how our lawyers can help you get compensation for your loved one’s damages.
Administration of Medication
In most nursing facilities, medication is given out during a “med pass,” which refers to medication given out to nursing facility residents according to order. The nurse will typically use a cart to hand out medication from resident to resident according to the doctors’ orders.
Med passes are carried out by licensed nurses and may take 4-5 hours to complete. It can take a few more hours to organize the medications and document their administration.
Examples of Medication Errors
Here are some common medication errors in nursing homes:
- Slicing or cutting pills. Some tablets or capsules have instructions not to crush them, but some staff members do anyway, making the medication less effective.
- Dosage or administration errors. When too much or too little of a medication is given, it can cause serious side effects and lead to a worsened condition. The same goes for administration, whether it’s a pill, injection, liquid, or some other form.
- Failure to monitor. When a patient is taking a new medication for the first time, it’s a good idea to monitor them afterward to ensure they do not have any serious reactions.
- Providing inadequate liquids. Many medications have instructions as to how much liquid should be given with the medication. A resident could suffer dehydration from a lack of liquids.
- Providing inadequate food. Some medications need to be taken with food. Nursing staff have the duty to give the medication in the right way.
- Having residents swallow sublingual medications. Some patients are resistant to taking sublingual tablets and may swallow them instead. The medication is not effective in this manner.
- Improperly giving eye drops. Eye drops are often taken improperly. The eye drop must connect with the eye for about 3-5 minutes to allow for proper absorption. Otherwise, it is considered a medication error.
- Diversion. Sometimes nurses will take some of a patient’s medication and give it to another patient or use it for themselves. This is considered malpractice.
Contact Allen Law Firm Today
Medication errors are no minor mistakes. A nursing home patient can get harmed by incorrect administration of a drug.
Seek legal help from Allen Law Firm. We’ll help prove your claim and guide you through this situation. Call (831) 901-3901 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation with a Monterey nursing home medication errors lawyer.
