Medication Errors

While underlying conditions increase clotting risk, medication errors play a major role in preventable cases of thromboembolism. Providers commonly use anticoagulant medications – such as warfarin, heparin, and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) – to help prevent DVT and PE in at-risk patients. mismanagement – such as incorrect dosing, omitted doses, or failure to adjust based on patient factors – can neglect necessary protection, allowing clots to form and become fatal emboli.

Certain drugs are toxic to the kidneys, particularly when improperly prescribed, administered in the wrong dose, or given without regard for the patient’s renal function. These medication errors can turn an otherwise reversible condition into a catastrophic outcome. One of the most frequent and preventable causes of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients is medication-related.

There are many potential causes of respiratory depression or arrest, including brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders, and severe infections. However, one of the most common—and most preventable—causes in hospitalized patients is the improper administration of medications.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, either due to a blockage (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). A hemorrhage, whether intracranial or elsewhere in the body, involves uncontrolled bleeding from blood vessels and can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. In medical settings, these catastrophic events are sometimes the direct result of errors in medication management.

Cardiac events may occur despite appropriate care due to complex medical conditions or unforeseeable complications. However, when a provider fails to consider known risks, skips standard heart monitoring, administers drugs inappropriately, or ignores warning signs, preventable harm occurs—and it might be grounds for a malpractice claim.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare but serious disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. It often begins with flu-like symptoms and rapidly progresses to a painful red or purplish rash that blisters, peels, and causes layers of skin to die and slough off. SJS can affect the eyes, mouth, airway, genitals, and internal organs. In its more severe form—Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)—the condition can be fatal.