Many medication errors are relatively minor. If a nurse fails to administer a single dose of a systemic antibiotic, the patient may need to increase how long they take their medication. Other mistakes can be much more serious.
A patient receiving too much of a medication or the wrong medication can suffer dire consequences. One of the most concerning potential side effects of a medication mistake is a non-traumatic brain injury for the patient involved.
How can medication errors lead to brain injuries that can affect someone’s career and overall health?
Medication errors can affect bodily functions
There are numerous different mechanisms through which medication errors can cause serious consequences for a patient. For example, receiving too much of an opioid medication could lead to a drop in available oxygen to the brain.
Someone who receives too much of an opioid medication may have a slower heart rate and suppressed respiration. While they may not stop breathing entirely, they could potentially have reduced oxygen delivery to their brain for hours or longer with serious long-term medical implications. Other times, it might be the administration of the wrong drug that causes disruptions to oxygen delivery to the brain. People may have severe reactions to the medication that interrupt normal bodily processes and put them at risk.
Non-traumatic brain injuries are still dangerous
People tend to prioritize traumatic brain injuries when talking about risk to the human neurological system. However, non-traumatic brain injuries can produce the exact same symptoms as traumatic injuries do. Someone with a drug-induced brain injury may develop cognitive challenges, motor function issues and even changes in their overall personality. The symptoms they experience could affect their earning potential, damage their relationships and leave them in need of regular medical support.
Brain injuries are usually incurable, even if people can learn to live with their symptoms. The long-term financial impact of a non-traumatic brain injury could easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Patients who can show that a medication error caused their brain injuries may have grounds for malpractice lawsuits. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit can potentially help patients to offset expenses and create consequences for medical professionals who make devastating, negligent errors on the job.
