Medication Interactions Resulting In Death Or Serious Personal Injuries

All medications can be very dangerous because they are controlled substances. These substances are meant to provoke a response or to perform an action in a body. They are meant to cause a reaction and to do something. That is the whole point of a medication and controlled substance.

However, sometimes the wrong reaction or response can occur. This could be absolutely devastating and very dangerous. A patient is taking a drug which will cause a reaction in the body, and in this case it is causing the wrong or dangerous reaction.

Common medication interactions which can cause serious personal injuries or death include the following:

• Internal bleeding;
• Anaphylactic shock;
• Closed airway;
• Fainting;
• Rapid heartbeat;
• Too close heartbeat;
• Organ damage;
• Severe nausea;
• Death; and
• Other serious complications.

Medication interactions can be caused by combining medications that are contraindicated. This means that several medications may not be dangerous by themselves, or even with other medications, but they may be deadly when combined with another type of medication. If a healthcare provider administers medications to patients that are contraindicated without checking the patient’s medical record, it can result in these very severe reactions.

Another issue with medication interactions is where medications are only to be given only a certain amount or a number of times a day. If medications are given too much in a time period, it can result in organ damage to the liver, kidneys, stomach, and intestines due to the potency of the medication. It can also result in damage to the heart, lungs, or eyesight.

If a healthcare provider makes errors in the medication administration which results in medication interactions, it can be medical malpractice. And with this medical malpractice a doctor could be liable; and shouldn’t he or she be liable? Or course! As patients, we rely on healthcare providers to care for us and prescribe us medications in a safe manner. If they don’t, they should be liable!