Poisoned: What Do You Do When the Wrong Meds Are Prescribed?

By Melanie Fleury Last updated Sep 4, 2013 9

When you go to the doctor, you have every reason to expect your provider to give you the right medications for your health conditions. While most doctors are competent and can be relied upon to prescribe the right medications, some doctors may inadvertently make mistakes and give the wrong medicines to their patients.

According to Bottar Leone attorney in Syracuse, over 255,000 deaths occur each year due to medical malpractice, which includes incorrect med prescriptions. If you find that you have been given the wrong medication, you may panic and wonder what you can do to protect your health. Knowing the proper steps to take and how to fight taking a dose of the wrong medication can ensure that you do not suffer any long-lasting effects from your doctor’s mistake.

Call Poison Control

Once you notice that your medication is adversely affecting your health, you should call Poison Control immediately. In most instances, the number to Poison Control is 911. Some hospitals also have 243-hour poison control numbers that you can call. Either way, the professionals who answer the phone can tell you what actions to take to ward off any ill effects of the medicine. It is vital that you follow the medical professional’s advice perfectly if you want to survive this medical mishap.

Do Not Induce Vomiting unless Otherwise Instructed

It used to be that safety experts advised people to have Syrup of Ipecac in their home emergency kits to use in an instance of accidental overdose. Syrup of Ipecac induces vomiting, which was once thought of as the appropriate action to take in these circumstances. Now, however, safety experts warn that taking this syrup could do more harm than good.

Vomiting up the medicine could cause damage to a person’s esophagus and throat lining. It can also cause a person to suffocate on his or her own vomit. For that reason, people are advised against inducing vomiting unless otherwise instructed by 911 or Poison Control.

Avoid Drinking or Eating Anything Until Medical Help Arrives

Some people think that washing down a wrongfully prescribed medication with water will help that person pass it quicker or dilute the medicine’s effects. However, when you drink water after taking a medicine, the hydration allows the medicine to go to work faster in your bloodstream. Unless you are told otherwise, you should avoid drinking or eating anything after taking a wrong medication. Having food or water in your stomach can also make it more difficult for doctors to pump your stomach to get the medicine out of your system.

After Treatment, Retain an Attorney

Your doctor may be the kindest and best physician you have ever encountered. However, his or her negligence toward you cannot be overlooked. If you allow this mistake to go unnoticed, chances are the doctor could make the same mistake again. You can take the appropriate action and also seek remedy for your own suffering by hiring an attorney. Your lawyer can advise on what kind of action should be taken after you have been given the wrong medicine by your physician.

It is not unreasonable to expect your doctor to give you the appropriate medication for your health conditions. If you are given the wrong medicine, you should know what actions to take to protect your health and look out for your future.

With four children that suffer from different allergies and ailments, Melanie Fleury is well aware of how easy it is to confuse medications. She has found that being extra diligent in labeling and noting down all doctor’s instructions has made it easier to keep track of her kid’s prescriptions. Bottar Leone attorney group stresses that actionable malpractice is infrequent but that it does occur. An experienced attorney can help to determine if you have a case that deserves compensation.