Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
Compassionate California Elder Abuse Attorneys
After making the difficult decision to place your loved in a nursing home,
you should not have to worry about whether they are receiving the proper
care and attention. You trust the nursing home facility to provide the
care that you could not. Sadly, nursing home abuse is not uncommon. Although
it can take many forms, one common form of negligence in nursing homes
is medication error.
Medication error can be defined as any administration of medication that
does not comply with:
1. Physician’s orders
2. Manufacturer's specifications regarding the preparation and administration
of the drug or biological
3. Accepted professional standards and principles that apply to professionals
providing services. Accepted professional standards and principles include
the various practice regulations in each State, and current commonly accepted
health standards established by national organizations, boards, and councils.
The nurses and administrators in a nursing home have the responsibility
of properly distributing medication to the patient. The standard method
is called “med pass.” This process involves the nurses measuring
the proper dose of medication, placing it on a cart, and taking it to
the patients from room to room. There is a clear schedule that must be
adhered to. However, having many patients can be overwhelming and the
nurse might make significant mistakes.If that is the situation, contact our elder abuse lawyers at Bostwick &
Peterson, LLP.
Common Medication Errors
As an individual gets older, medication might be a necessary factor in
maintaining their health. It is vital that the elderly receive the proper
treatment. That is why nursing home facilities are only allowed a 5% error
rate. Anything above will result in a deficiency citation and warrant
an inspection from the state.
Some medication errors that occur include:
- Not shaking medication that are labeled “shake well”
- Improper insulin administration
- Crushing medication that are specially made to be taken whole
- Not providing or monitoring appropriate fluids with the medicine
- Allowing patients to swallow sublingual tablets, that must be placed under
the tongue
Medication Malpractice by Nursing Home Staff
There are many reasons why a medication error can occur. It might be human
error, a mistake on the pharmacist’s part, not following procedures,
or more. But as licensed practitioners nurses and nursing home administrators
have an obligation to provide diligent and effective care for your loved
ones. If they do not adhere to regulations, they may be liable of committing
staff medication malpractice.
This malpractice includes:
- Ignoring medication instructions and orders
- Stealing medication
- Failing to manage medicine properly
Don’t Let Your Loved Experience Nursing Home Abuse
When it comes to taking care of the elderly, it should be the top priority
of a nursing home. If you believe that the nurses and staff are improperly
administering medication to your loved one, contact our California elder
abuse lawyers. We can review your case and help come up with a plan to
pursue justice.