Wrong Drug Doses and Children: A Deadly Combination

Medical malpractice occurs in Pittsburgh, just as it does across the U.S., and prescribing errors seem to constitute a real trouble spot. According to recent research, more than one in 10 prescriptions written for children in hospitals contain doctor errors. In addition, the same study confirmed that nearly one in five drugs is wrongly administered. In many cases, pharmacists notice the errors before they get to the children, but many of the errors would be lethal if administered.

In one medical malpractice incident that wasn’t stopped by a pharmacist or anyone else, a child received epilepsy medication that was at a dose 10 times higher than it should have been for a child. In another incident, a child barely escaped receiving a medical prescription for the narcotic morphine that was four times the dose that he would have required. One child that was not lucky enough to escape a wrong prescription was 4-month old Abbie who died after being given an overdose of a diuretic 10 times the correct dose. Other research shows that paracetamol, a medicine widely prescribed for fevers and pain in children, is often given at the wrong dosage which can lead to liver damage.

With all of these studies available and known within the medical community, one would think that doctors, nurses, and all medical personnel would be especially attentive when prescribing and administering medication to children and infants. Sadly, instances of prescribing errors and wrongly administered medication continues. And though the research reports alarming statistics, when it comes to our children, even one case that results in a death is one too many and rightfully merits the stern justice that comes from a medical malpractice lawsuit.

If you believe that your child has received inaccurate dosages of medication or has suffered from any other form of medical malpractice in the Pittsburgh area, you should contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible. Often, parents are hesitant to question the wisdom of their pediatrician. First time parents, especially, believe that their doctor knows what is best for their child. And in most instances, this is true. It is also true, however, that there are some doctors who make parents feel as though they do not have the medical knowledge to question anything that the doctor does or makes them feel as though they lack the experience to have an informed opinion. Parents should trust their instincts. They are the ones who spend the most time with their children and they are the ones who are most able to notice when something is wrong.

If you believe that there has been something amiss with the treatment of your child, consulting with a Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorney will give you peace of mind and will help you to know if you might have a medical malpractice case.

Medical Malpractice Pittsburgh – If you believe you have a medical malpractice case in Pittsburgh, contact Stewart, Murray & Associates Law Group. The SM&A team of medical malpractice lawyers is experienced in aggressively representing Pittsburgh clients, presenting their unique and important medical malpractice case in a way that best meets the client’s needs. Visit us online at http://www.smalawgroup.com/ or call 1.888.9.SMALAW