It is estimated that medication errors account for approximately 7000 deaths per year in the United States. In a recent presentation for pharmacists given by Michael R. Cohen, author of Medication Errors , he identified the top 10 medications involved in adverse events (insulin and blood thinners (anticoagulants) account for over 14% of them). His presentation highlighted how both human mistakes (mistakes by the pharmacist) and system errors (e.g. how pharmacies arrange and label medication) cause medication errors. Nearly half of all adverse medication events have some form of "preventability." ( http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/556487)Attorneys at Anapol Schwartz have handled numerous cases involving medication errors including unintentional overdose of blood thinners resulting in vision loss and even death. In order to protect themselves and their families, consumers should actively question their doctors and pharmacists about new medications and changes in medications to help detect and prevent medication errors.
