Can Incorrect Dosage Cause Organ Damage?

Medications used to treat illness can become the culprit of organ damage when practitioners prescribe incorrect dosages. Some of the most distressing cases a Portland medication prescription error attorney witnesses are those injuries that are preventable through proper care. Organ damage due to incorrect dosage is a critical error that can lead to death, and becoming your own advocate is vital to your safety.

What Organs Are Most Susceptible to Damage?

Our organs serve as intricate filtering systems to remove waste from the body, protect from illness, and gather the nutrients needed to sustain a healthy life. Any of the body’s organs are susceptible to damage from incorrect dosage, but the kidneys are particularly vulnerable because of their role in the body. One of the kidneys’ primary functions is removing medications from the body.

Incorrect dosage requires the kidneys to work harder to remove toxins from the body, which can eventually lead to the kidneys’ inability to function. Without the proper monitoring of medications and their effects on the body, the early stages of kidney disease often go undetected, leaving a reversible illness to progress and result in organ damage.

How Do Medication Errors Occur?

Medical practitioners are busier than ever, often allowing only moments with one patient before moving on to the next. However, each medical care provider has a duty of care owed to a patient, and negligence is often the result of these preventable errors. Incorrect dosage can result from:

• Poor record keeping
• The correct medication is given but in an improper way
• A misdiagnosis
• A pharmacist substitutes the wrong medicine or dosage
• The mislabeling of a medication
• A doctor prescribes the incorrect medicine
• A patient’s medical charts are misread

Narrowing down how and where the incorrect dosage occurred and who is responsible is overwhelming and often impossible without help. Knowing what to do if you are prescribed the wrong medication or incorrect dosage can lead to a guessing game of the steps to take while trying to stabilize your health. Speaking with a medical malpractice attorney in Portland provides an individual’s support to pursue legal action while refocusing their attention on recovery.

Can Incorrect Doses of Common Medications Result in Organ Damage?

Many of the common medications taken daily can result in organ damage when improper dosage occurs. These medications do not always need a prescription, and a physician can prescribe over-the-counter medications to treat multiple illnesses. Some of the more common medicines to be aware of include:

• Pain relievers, such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen
• Laxatives
• Acid suppressing medications
• Herbal Supplements

These common over-the-counter medications, prescribed in the incorrect dosage, can lead to irreversible damage to the kidneys and other organs of the body, such as the liver, without proper monitoring. Additionally, commonly prescribed medicines, such as antibiotics and analgesics for pain management, can result in organ damage when incorrect dosage occurs. Medication errors are a growing concern, with the cost to patients exceeding $40 billion annually.

Pacific Northwest Medical Negligence Attorney

Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC is committed to each client’s right to be heard and seek a full recovery. We are fierce advocates for individuals who have suffered due to negligence and the consequences of incorrect dosage. Schedule your free case evaluation today, and let us advocate for your rights while minimizing the stress and overwhelm that can accompany medical injuries.