Orange County Elderly Medication Error Lawyer
If a loved one has been the victim of a medication error at a nursing home, he or she may be eligible for compensation for resulting injuries. But to have a successful claim, you’ll need the representation of a skilled Orange County elderly medication error attorney. Since 2002, Travis Siegel of Travis Siegel has made it his mission to defend the rights of the elderly and assure their voices are heard.
Call today for a free consultation at 562-414-5294.
There are nearly 16,000 nursing homes spread across the United States, and at any one time, approximately 1.5 million Americans reside in them. Due to the advanced age of these residents, the majority of them are on at least one medication, and many are on two or more medications. This can present a problem because many nursing homes and assisted living facilities are understaffed and many of the employees present aren’t qualified to dispense medication or give injections. This dynamic will ultimately lead to medication errors that can cause serious injury or even death.
JAMA Study
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) was conducted to find out how prevalent medication errors were in assisted living facilities. The study involved 36 institutions and the results reveal that medication errors are truly a national concern. Nineteen percent – nearly one in five – doses administered were in error. The most frequent errors, by category, were as follows:
- Medication administered at the wrong time (43%)
- Omission of dose (30%)
- Wrong dose of medication (17%)
- Unauthorized medication (4%)
Common Causes of Medication Errors
An estimated 1.3 million Americans are harmed by medication errors every year. Some of the more common causes for these errors include:
- Misreading of similarly named medications
- Misreading of medication abbreviations
- Misinterpreting quantity of prescribed drug
- Misunderstanding of directions
- Failing to follow all directions correctly
- Labeling medication improperly
- Poor communication within the healthcare team
- Poor handwriting of prescription
- Failing to consider possible drug interaction
If you believe any of the aforementioned scenarios led to the harm of your loved one, speak with a dedicated Orange County nursing home abuse lawyer experienced in medication error cases.
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 562-414-5294 today!
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Choosing the right nursing home for your loved ones is a personal (and tough) decision. It is something you must decide on your own, or with the rest of your family. With that in mind, however, there are a few resources you can use to help with the decision.
The Health Facilities Consumer Information System provided by the state of California lets you search for different types of health facilities, including nursing homes. The Medicare website also provides a tool for finding nursing homes.
The Health Facilities Consumer Information System also lets you search for complaints against said facilities. You can use this tool to check on any homes you might be considering and see if complaints have been filed against them.
Remember, if you suspect any form of elderly abuse or negligence has occurred, trust your instincts and call us at Siegel Law. 562-414-5294
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Pressure sores, also called bed sores and pressure ulcers, are a common sign of nursing home abuse or neglect. They are caused by unrelieved pressure on the skin. Bed sores typically appear near areas where the bones are close to the skin: the hips, back, elbows, and ankles. When pressure sores first show up, they’re just skin irritation. With prompt treatment, they typically have no lasting effects. When not treated quickly, however, later stages can result in serious damage not only to the skin but also to muscle and bone.
The greatest tragedy of pressure sores is that they are relatively easy to prevent. Regular movement of a person restricted to a bed or wheelchair can help avoid pressure sores. Someone who must remain in bed should be moved about every two hours. The use of a pressure-reducing mattress can help. A proper diet, cleanliness, and daily exercise all help prevent pressure sores and eliminate the serious harm that can accompany them.
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The answer is no. Siegel Law takes all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that our clients owe the firm nothing for expenses unless they are awarded a monetary settlement or we receive a favorable verdict at trial. All expenses will be deducted from the settlement or jury verdict. Not a dime will be taken out of your pocket.
