Thousands of patients suffer due to mistakes in prescriptions. These errors are more common than you might think and they can lead to serious health issues. Whether it's due to similar drug names, wrong dosages or poor handwriting, common prescription errors can put patients at risk and create avoidable complications.
In India, the growing burden on healthcare professionals adds to this problem. Lack of proper communication, heavy workloads and manual prescriptions increase the chances of mistakes. Understanding these errors can help you stay alert and make sure your treatment is safe and effective.
List of most common prescription errors
Errors in prescription can occur despite the best intentions. Here are some of the most frequent types:
- Wrong dosage: A very high or very low dose can be harmful. This often happens when decimal points are misplaced or units are misread.
- Illegible handwriting: Poor handwriting continues to be a major issue. Pharmacists may misinterpret the name or dosage of a medicine.
- Similar-sounding drug names: Medicines with similar names (like celecoxib and Celexa) can be easily mixed up, leading to the wrong drug being given.
- Incomplete prescription details: Missing instructions or patient details can confuse both pharmacists and patients.
- Medication errors in nursing: Lack of clarity in doctor's orders or high patient loads can lead to medication errors in nursing, affecting patient safety.
- Drug interactions: Prescribing drugs without checking existing medication can cause harmful interactions.
- Wrong patient information: Mistaking one patient's records for another's is a serious but avoidable issue.
Conclusion
Prescription mistakes are preventable if everyone involved—doctors, nurses, pharmacists and even patients—stay vigilant. As a patient, it helps to double-check your medication, ask questions and report anything unusual.
From a healthcare provider's perspective, carrying a professional indemnity insurance policy for doctors is a smart way to stay protected against legal risks that may arise from prescription mistakes. This insurance covers claims related to negligence, errors or omissions during treatment.
For patients and their families having a group health insurance plan ensures that the cost of any unexpected hospitalisation due to prescription errors doesn't become a burden. Healthcare is a shared responsibility. With awareness, better communication and proper systems, we can reduce prescription errors and make treatments safer for everyone.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. Please read the sales brochure / policy wordings carefully for detailed information about on risk factors, terms, conditions and exclusions. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.