We trust our doctors to abide by their oath to “first, do no harm” when we place our lives in their hands. While it’s not unusual to have anxiety over surgery and major medical procedures, few people think twice about taking a simple medication prescribed by a doctor. Unfortunately, no medication is “simple,” and when a doctor or pharmacist makes a medication mistake, it can have life-altering consequences, including organ failure or even death.
A medication mistake is medical malpractice. Despite the medical community’s listing of it as a “Never Event” because these mistakes are never supposed to occur, medical studies show medication errors are one of the most frequent causes of avoidable patient harm.
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Severe Medication Errors That Cause Organ Failure or Death
What Is a Medication Error?
Medication errors happen when a medical professional prescribes, dispenses, or administers the wrong medication or dosage, or prescribes, dispenses, or administers a medication to the wrong patient. Administering a medication incorrectly or through the wrong route is also a medication error, for instance, having a patient swallow a medication meant to dissolve on the tongue.
Medication mistakes also occur when a medical provider fails to obtain a complete medical history and prescribes or administers a medication to a patient who is allergic to the medication or is on another medication with a contraindication.
Medication errors are preventable and caused by negligence. A medication mistake may occur at any stage of the medication process. At each stage of a patient’s treatment, the medical professional in charge of the patient’s care has a legal duty of care to check the patient’s chart and review their medical history before prescribing or administering a medication.
Serious Medication Mistakes May Result In Kidney Damage
Organ damage most commonly occurs from incorrect medication dosage, typically overdosage. The organs that filter toxins from the blood are the most susceptible to damage, including the kidneys. An incorrect dosage of certain medications forces the kidneys to work harder to remove the excess toxins from the body. Some medications that lead to kidney damage when given in too high a dosage or when contraindicated for a patient include:
- Antibiotics
- Blood thinners
- Analgesic painkillers
- Diuretics
- Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) (used to treat heartburn and acid reflux)
- Laxatives (some types of prescription and over-the-counter laxatives cause crystals to develop in the kidneys
- Diabetes medications
- Chemotherapy medications
- Methotrexate (an imunosuppressant medication)
- Statins
- Antifungal medications
Too high a dosage or a dosage prescribed to a patient with kidney disease can result in the kidneys shutting down, and eventually permanent damage and kidney failure.
What Medication Mistakes Cause Liver Failure?
Liver damage can occur when a patient takes too high a dosage of medications containing acetaminophen. These medications are often prescribed and are also available over the counter. Acetaminophen is the most common cause of liver damage from medication error. Medications that can cause liver failure when incorrectly administered include the following:
- Acetaminophen
- Anticonvulsants
- Antiemetics (nausea medications)
- Antifungal medications
- Antibiotics
- Chemotherapy medications
- Statins
- Amiodarone (a heart medication)
- Anti-seizure medications
The above are some, but not all, of the medications commonly associated with liver failure due to medication errors. Patients with a history of alcohol abuse or who are actively abusing alcohol have a higher risk of liver failure when given these medications incorrectly.
Medication Errors That Can Cause Heart Failure
The heart is an essential organ for life, pumping oxygen-filled blood throughout the body. Unfortunately, some medication mistakes can cause heart failure, sometimes resulting in death. Common medications that cause heart failure include the following:
- NSAIDS
- Diabetes medications
- Blood pressure medications
- Chemotherapy medications
- Antidepressants
- Stimulants
- Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFs)
- Antipsychotics
When a medication mistake occurs in prescribing, dispensing, or administering any of the above medications, the result can be damage to the heart, heart failure, and death.
Medication Mistakes that Lead to Brain Damage
The brain is highly sensitive to many substances, including medications. Medications that impact the central nervous system are most likely to cause injury to the brain when administered incorrectly. The most common medications linked to errors leading to brain damage include the following:
- Benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medications)
- Anticonvulsants
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Opioids and other narcotic painkillers
- Statins
- Antipsychotics
- Antiseizure medications
In addition, anesthesia medication mistakes during surgeries cause brain damage and sometimes death to patients.
What Other Organs are Damaged by Medication Mistakes?
Although less common than liver and kidney failure and organ damage to the heart and brain, medication errors can also cause injury to the pancreas, lungs, and even bone marrow, which is also considered an organ. Chemotherapy medication mistakes may damage the bone marrow, causing anemia, bleeding, and an increased risk of infection.
What Can I Do If a Medication Mistake Caused Organ Failure?
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals owe a legal duty of care to treat patients at the standard of care accepted by the medical community. Failure to do so leaves the provider liable for damages if their negligence caused a serious injury like organ failure or a patient’s death. If you’ve suffered organ failure with serious physical and financial impacts, a medical malpractice claim may help you recover the compensation you need for the best possible medical care. If a loved one died due to a severe medication mistake with organ damage, a wrongful death claim against the at-fault provider may recover compensation for a close surviving family member, such as a spouse, parent, or child.
How Can an Arizona Medical Malpractice Attorney Help?
Organ damage or failure is one of the most serious medical malpractice injuries, often with long-term repercussions for survivors or for the family members of deceased patients. These consequences are the “damages” in a medical malpractice claim.
Medical malpractice claims are complex. Many medical professionals deny liability, including in medication error cases, or their insurance companies undervalue the claim to protect their profits. A Phoenix medical malpractice attorney from Knapp & Roberts can help prove your case through a thorough investigation and access to medical experts. Call Knapp & Roberts or contact us online for a free evaluation of your medication mistake malpractice case.