Every day, hundreds of Indiana medical patients rely on professionally trained doctors to provide treatments for a variety of conditions and symptoms. Many of these people trust the opinions, education, and suggestions of medical professionals especially when recommendations for medications are made.
What may come as a surprise to some, is how frequently medication errors are made. For people who are undergoing treatment of some kind, being an educated patient can help them to avoid becoming the victim of such a mistake. According to the Huffington Post, here are some of the things they can do:
- Provide a history: Patients should always disclose their medication history to their doctor including any allergic reactions.
- Be vigilant: An educated patient will look for signs that their doctor is aware of any allergies he or she may have. For example, hospitalized patients should see that all allergies to certain medications are clearly listed on their wristband.
- Look for attentiveness: The best doctors will do a thorough consultation of a patient’s condition, symptoms and treatment options before making a recommendation for medications. With proper research, a doctor can effectively determine a solution that will help the patient regain health without compromising his or her well-being and safety.
- Do some research: Once a doctor has prescribed medication, it is not a bad idea for patients to do some research of their own. With a basic familiarization of side effects and the medication’s overall purpose, patients can feel more confident about taking it the right way.
As reported by Forbes, medical malpractice is now one of the leading causes of death in the United States coming in at number three behind heart disease and cancer.