Hyattsville Nursing Home Medication Errors Attorney

Skilled Lawyer for Injuries Due to Medication Mistakes in Nursing Homes in Hyattsville, Maryland

Elderly people or others who reside in nursing homes may rely on different medications to manage chronic illnesses, prevent complications, and maintain a stable quality of life. Unfortunately, nursing home staff members may fail to administer medications properly, and this can put a resident's health at risk. This form of nursing home negligence may even lead to wrongful death in some situations. Families of people who have been affected by medication errors in nursing homes will need to understand their legal options, and they can benefit from legal representation from an experienced attorney.

Attorney Jason Kisner and the team at Kisner Law work with families to address medication errors and other forms of negligence that have resulted in injuries or caused nursing home residents to experience declining health. We work to uncover the root causes of these mistakes, and we take aggressive action to hold negligent nursing homes accountable for their failure to provide the proper care. With our help, families can take steps to protect the health and safety of their loved ones and address the harm that has occurred due to improper nursing home care.

How Medication Errors Can Occur in Nursing Homes

In long-term care facilities, errors related to the medications taken by residents are far too common. Medication errors may occur due to poor training, understaffing, or other forms of negligence. Some of the ways nursing home residents may suffer harm because of the negligence of staff members include:

• Incorrect Dosages: When a person receives too much of a medication, they may experience dangerous side effects, or they may even experience life-threatening overdoses. Health issues may also occur if a person receives too little of a medication, since their conditions will not be properly treated.
• Wrong Medication: One resident may receive a drug intended for someone else due to mix-ups, labeling errors, or inattention by staff members.
• Missed Doses: When staff members neglect to administer scheduled medications, patients may experience dangerous interruptions in treatment that is needed to maintain their health.
• Improper Administration Methods: Failing to follow guidelines when providing medications to patients can reduce the effectiveness of treatments or lead to injuries. For example, staff members may crush pills that should be swallowed whole, or they may fail to administer injectable medications correctly.
• Failure to Check for Allergies or Interactions: When providers do not review a resident's medical history or the medications they are currently taking, harmful drug reactions can occur.
• Lack of Monitoring: Staff members should monitor residents to determine whether they experience side effects or changes in condition after receiving medications. Failure to observe patients and respond correctly to health concerns can lead to worsening health.
• Poor Communication: Inadequate recordkeeping, unclear instructions, and miscommunication between shifts or departments can contribute to medication mistakes.

The Effects of Medication Errors on Nursing Home Residents

Medication errors can lead to serious or fatal injuries for nursing home residents. Elderly people or those who suffer from disabilities may be susceptible to complications due to changes in metabolism, existing health conditions, and sensitivity to drugs. Consequences of medication errors may include:

• Overdoses: Taking too much of a medication can result in respiratory distress, loss of consciousness, or death.
• Underdosing or Skipped Medications: Failure to administer critical medications may lead to uncontrolled blood pressure, seizures, infections, or other preventable conditions.
• Adverse Drug Reactions: Mixing medications that interact poorly or ignoring known allergies can cause nausea, confusion, rashes, organ failure, or cardiac issues.
• Worsening of Underlying Conditions: Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or dementia can rapidly deteriorate if a person does not receive the proper medication.
• Loss of Mobility or Mental Clarity: Medication errors may result in dizziness, cognitive impairment, or neurological symptoms that may increase the risks of falls or other injuries.

Contact Our Hyattsville, MD Nursing Home Injury Lawyer for Medication Errors

Nursing homes should provide the proper care, treatment, and supervision at all times, including following a resident's treatment plan and administering medications when necessary. Errors related to prescription medications or other drugs can put a person's health at risk, and these issues may even threaten their life. Families who have been affected by nursing home negligence involving medications can take steps to address the harm a person has suffered and ensure that they will receive the proper care going forward.

At Kisner Law, we can help your family take steps to address medication errors or other forms of negligence that have led to injuries for a loved one in a nursing home. We will fight to ensure that you will receive compensation that fully addresses the harm done to your family. Contact us today by calling 240-459-0097 to schedule a free consultation.