Miami Infant Medication Error Attorney

Every year, children die from accidental heparin overdoses in hospitals across the nation. If your family is suffering because of an overdose or misdiagnosis of a prescribed medication, the Miami infant medication error lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. can help you fight for the compensation you need to afford your medical bills and hospital expenses.

Why Children Are More Vulnerable to Medical Mistakes

There are many reasons children are more vulnerable to medication mistakes than adults, the first being their small size. A child’s reaction to the wrong drug or the wrong dose of the right drug can be much worse than an adult’s. Even a slight increase in dosage from what was originally prescribed can have serious side effects on children, especially premature babies and infants.

Additional causes of child vulnerability to medication errors include:

• Child’s internal development: The liver, kidneys, and immune system of a child are still developing, which prevents infants and children from being able to flush out improper doses of too much or the wrong kind of medication.
• Lack of standardized dosage: Adult medications are often pre-packed; but children’s medication must be dosed individually based on the individual’s size and weight, which leaves room for error.
• Inability to communicate what is wrong: Children are less able to communicate what they are feeling to nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals. This can making it challenging to properly diagnose and treat symptoms.
• A variety of medications: Children may receive the same medication in a variety of forms, including chewable pills, liquids, and drops. This increases the opportunity for human error in dosing.

Parents can help reduce the likelihood of a medical mistake by acting as the eyes and ears of their children. Ask questions, speak up when something doesn’t seem right, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Safety Measures to Prevent Medication Errors

In order to combat the serious and potentially fatal side effects of medication errors, many hospitals have instituted barcoding systems and electronic order systems. Barcodes must be scanned on the drug and on the patient’s wristband to ensure the right drug is being given to the right patient. Electronic ordering systems are intended to limit interpretation errors that can come from poor handwriting, incorrect abbreviations, or drugs with similar names.

Despite industry efforts, mistakes still occur, causing harm to many small children throughout the United States. If your son or daughter was injured because he or she received the wrong dose of medication or the wrong medication entirely, our Miami medical malpractice lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. can help.

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If you believe a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional involved in your birthing experience made a mistake that caused injury to you or your child, contact us to schedule a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

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