You hear about car accident deaths almost every day. What you do not hear about as often are drug overdoses, but in fact, annual fatal drug overdose rates exceed yearly car accident deaths. In 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 37,485 people died from overdose, while only 36,284 people died from car crashes. If you have been the victim of a prescription error in Louisville, caused by a medication error, seek a medical malpractice attorney for help.
Pain and anxiety medications, such as Soma, OxyContin, Vicodin, and Xanax, are the most common types of prescription drugs in fatal drug overdose deaths. Many of these medications are taken with other medications, alcohol, or a higher dose than prescribed.
Medical Malpractice’s Effect on Rising Drug Overdose Rates
With the number of overdoses from drugs exceeding the number of car accident deaths per year, many people are looking at how the medical community has contributed to these deaths.
According to the Federal Drug Administration, administering the wrong dose is the most common form of medication error, with giving the wrong medication following closely behind in occurrence. Since those over the age of 60 are more likely to take more than one medication, they are the population that suffers the greatest risk from medication errors.
Senior citizens are not the only ones who are the victims of medication errors. According to MedicineNet.com, about 1.3 million people suffer from medication errors every year in the United States. Since there are many ways for health professionals in Louisville to make a medication error, a medical malpractice attorney should be contacted. Seek the Law Offices of Gray & White at 502-210-8942 or toll-free at 888-450-4456.
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