Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
A Nursing Home Medication Error is a Form of Nursing Home Neglect. Call an SI Elder Law Medication Errors Lawyer for Help Today
Medication error, the failure to provide correct drugs or proper doses of drugs meant to treat a resident’s illness or infirmity. A recent federal study found up to one third of nursing home residents having been temporarily or permanently harmed by a medication error.
Avoidable medication errors are caused by nursing home staff members failing to do their jobs, either because of lack or training or interest, or because of inadequate staffing. When avoidable injury or death of a nursing home resident occurs, SI Elder Law works to help them or their family obtain compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
Avoidable medication errors are caused by nursing home staff members failing to do their jobs, either because of lack or training or interest, or because of inadequate staffing. When avoidable injury or death of a nursing home resident occurs, SI Elder Law works to help them or their family obtain compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
What are Medication Errors?
An organization known as the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP) works from a definition that says:
A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer.
A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer.
Further, the NCCMERP says medication error may be related to professional practice, procedures and systems, or the medical products and include mistakes in:
- Prescribing
- Dispensing (dosages)
- Packing
- Monitoring
- Order Communication
- Nomenclature (misunderstood or misused labels or terminology)
- Distribution
- Misuse
- Product Labeling
- Compounding (combining drugs)
- Administration
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Because of these failures, elderly and vulnerable nursing home residents can be harmed by such specific medication errors as , i.e., too late or too soon after a previous dosage (overdose),and administering medication(s) that interact adversely or that exacerbate the patient’s medical condition.
A recent study by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that focused on skilled nursing care – treatment in nursing homes for up to 35 days after a patient was discharged from an acute care hospital – found that:.
A recent study by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that focused on skilled nursing care – treatment in nursing homes for up to 35 days after a patient was discharged from an acute care hospital – found that:.
- 22 percent of patients suffered events that caused lasting harm
- 11 percent were temporarily harmed
- 5 percent were fatally harmed
According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices
Medication errors are rarely the result of one person making an error, but rather a series of system failures that allowed an error to occur. Analysis of medication errors should include looking at the system causes of medication errors to prevent future events, and evaluating the behavior of the staff involved in the medication error.
Medications Used as Chemical Restraint in Nursing Homes
The improper use of anti-psychotic medications in nursing homes is a disturbing trend that is more an act of abuse than the negligence that typically leads to medical error.
These are drugs that may be properly prescribed to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, delusions and hallucinations.
But because they are calming or immobilizing, anti-psychotics are often improperly administered to nursing home residents, particularly those who are seen as problematic because of their behavior. In many cases, anti-psychotic medications are used to calm and immobilize residents who suffer from dementia, which can cause oppositional behavior and aggression, agitation and wandering.
In a major report released in 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said as many as 1 in 4 nursing home residents receive at least one antipsychotic medication, and many of those residents have dementia. These medications are being used inappropriately, for too long and at too high a dose, CMS said.
Anti-psychotic medications can have serious side effects, and the Food and Drug Administration has warned medical professionals of an increased risk of death in elderly patients receiving antipsychotic drugs to treat dementia-related psychosis. FDA studies found increased risk of heart failure and pneumonia, as well.
These are drugs that may be properly prescribed to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, delusions and hallucinations.
But because they are calming or immobilizing, anti-psychotics are often improperly administered to nursing home residents, particularly those who are seen as problematic because of their behavior. In many cases, anti-psychotic medications are used to calm and immobilize residents who suffer from dementia, which can cause oppositional behavior and aggression, agitation and wandering.
In a major report released in 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said as many as 1 in 4 nursing home residents receive at least one antipsychotic medication, and many of those residents have dementia. These medications are being used inappropriately, for too long and at too high a dose, CMS said.
Anti-psychotic medications can have serious side effects, and the Food and Drug Administration has warned medical professionals of an increased risk of death in elderly patients receiving antipsychotic drugs to treat dementia-related psychosis. FDA studies found increased risk of heart failure and pneumonia, as well.
In fact, the FDA warning states:
“Antipsychotic drugs are not approved for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis. Furthermore, there is no approved drug for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis.”
In addition to the medical ramifications, it is illegal for a skilled nursing facility to use chemical or physical restraints, unless it’s necessary to treat the resident’s medical symptoms. Chemical restraints may not be used to punish or for the convenience of the staff.
In addition to the medical ramifications, it is illegal for a skilled nursing facility to use chemical or physical restraints, unless it’s necessary to treat the resident’s medical symptoms. Chemical restraints may not be used to punish or for the convenience of the staff.
If You Need an Illinois Medication Error Attorney, SI Elder Law Can Help
Nursing homes have a moral and legal duty to devise, implement and follow protocols and practices that prevent medication errors. They also have an obligation to follow medical directives and laws that preclude off-label / atypical use of anti-psychotic medications, particularly as an illegal chemical restraint.
Determining that a loved one’s sudden illness or death in a nursing home can be attributed to medical error or abusive use of medication requires skilled and knowledgeable investigation. Any death in Illinois is investigated by authorities, but the death of an elderly and ill person under medical care in a nursing home will receive scant attention without a concerted effort to push for more.
SI Elder Law can help if you believe a loved one’s medical deterioration or death in a Southern Illinois nursing home was caused by medication error or abuse. Our attorneys can investigate and, with the assistance of consulting medical professionals, seek to determine what has really happened and why.
Our objective is to see to it that your loved one and your family are made right financially and work to ensure that a harmful situation is corrected. Through a personal injury lawsuit, we can seek compensation for your losses, such as for medical expenses, and pain and suffering. In a wrongful death lawsuit, we may recover funeral and burial expenses as well.
As attorneys working for nursing home abuse and neglect victims and their families, we can also provide or obtain additional assistance your elderly family member may need. Over decades of work for Southern Illinois seniors, we have developed a network of senior and family services professionals who can assist your family beyond the legal assistance we can proudly provide you.
SI Elder Law provides free initial legal consultations in cases of suspected nursing home medical error or abuse. If you have concerns about the medical treatment a loved one has received in a nursing home in Southern Illinois, contact SI Elder Law for help now.
Determining that a loved one’s sudden illness or death in a nursing home can be attributed to medical error or abusive use of medication requires skilled and knowledgeable investigation. Any death in Illinois is investigated by authorities, but the death of an elderly and ill person under medical care in a nursing home will receive scant attention without a concerted effort to push for more.
SI Elder Law can help if you believe a loved one’s medical deterioration or death in a Southern Illinois nursing home was caused by medication error or abuse. Our attorneys can investigate and, with the assistance of consulting medical professionals, seek to determine what has really happened and why.
Our objective is to see to it that your loved one and your family are made right financially and work to ensure that a harmful situation is corrected. Through a personal injury lawsuit, we can seek compensation for your losses, such as for medical expenses, and pain and suffering. In a wrongful death lawsuit, we may recover funeral and burial expenses as well.
As attorneys working for nursing home abuse and neglect victims and their families, we can also provide or obtain additional assistance your elderly family member may need. Over decades of work for Southern Illinois seniors, we have developed a network of senior and family services professionals who can assist your family beyond the legal assistance we can proudly provide you.
SI Elder Law provides free initial legal consultations in cases of suspected nursing home medical error or abuse. If you have concerns about the medical treatment a loved one has received in a nursing home in Southern Illinois, contact SI Elder Law for help now.