Study Shows Problems with 1 in 20 Hospital Medication Administrations

Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston recently released the results of a study that was conducted when medication was administered to patients we were having surgery. This study found that 1 in 20 medication administrations included an adverse drug event or a medication error.

The study, which involved licensed anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists observing 277 operations over eight months, found that 193 medication administrations (5%) involved a medication error or adverse drug event.

A medication error is when the wrong medication or incorrect dosage is administered to the patient. An adverse drug event is when the patient has a reaction at the time the drug is administered.

Of these 193 adverse medication administrations, 153 of the medication errors/adverse drug events were preventable (40 were non-preventable). In the state of Connecticut, if your loved one was injured during a surgical procedure where the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist deviated from the standard of care, and permanent injury (like brain damage or death) occurred, that could be considered medical malpractice.

Our medical practice team includes both a doctor/attorney and a nurse/attorney. Call our office immediately if you are questioning the care your loved one received while under anesthesia.