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Medication management: Understanding the standard of care

On Behalf of | Nov 8, 2024 | Medical Malpractice

One of the key elements of a medical malpractice claim is a breach of standard of care. “Standard of care” here means how a skilled doctor or nurse should treat you in a given situation. It’s the level of care you can reasonably expect from a competent healthcare provider. This standard isn’t about perfect care. Rather, it’s about providing treatment that aligns with accepted medical practices for your specific condition.

If you have multiple health issues or a complicated medical condition, your health care providers need to pay extra attention to your overall treatment plan. This is especially true for prescribing or managing your medications, which involve a variety of considerations.

Comorbidities

When you have multiple health issues and comorbidities, your doctors need to understand how your different conditions affect each other. They must also consider how treating one problem might impact your overall health. Ideally, they should:

  • Spend extra time reviewing your full medical history
  • Talk to specialists when necessary
  • Carefully plan your treatment to avoid complications

If your health care provider doesn’t consider how other conditions might interact with your medications, they might fall short of providing the expected level of care.

Harmful interactions or side effects

If you take multiple medications, your health care must check all your prescriptions carefully and understand how the drugs might interact with each other. Doctors and pharmacists must make sure that your medications work well together without causing harm. They might need to change doses or switch medications to protect you.

Old age

As you grow older, your body handles medications differently. Your doctors must pay extra attention to this when treating you. They should consider how your age affects your health and adjust your medications accordingly. They may need to lower doses or choose different drugs that work better for older patients.

Medical errors can have serious consequences

You have the right to proper medical care. If a medication mistake or wrong prescription has injured you, you may be able to pursue compensation. Seek legal counsel today.

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