Kansas City Nursing Home Medication Error Attorneys

Medication Mistakes Caused by Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect 

Many nursing home residents rely on various medications to manage various health conditions. Nursing home staff—including doctors and nurses—have a responsibility to ensure that residents receive the proper medications in the proper doses at the correct times. Failure to do so may constitute nursing home negligence and could serve as grounds for legal action.

At the Law Office of Tom Wagstaff Jr., we have seen firsthand how devastating medication errors can be, especially when they affect elderly individuals and their families. We also believe that negligent nursing homes and providers should be held accountable when they make mistakes that cause serious bodily injury, illness, or, in the worst cases, death. Our Kansas City nursing home medication error attorneys stand up for the rights of victims and their loved ones. We can help you fight for the justice you deserve. 

Reach out to our firm today to request a free initial consultation. Call (816) 597-4556 or contact us online to get started. 

Examples of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes 

Medication errors can occur any time an individual caregiver or nursing home improperly prescribes, dispenses, or administers medication to a resident. 

Some examples of common medication errors in nursing homes include: 

• Failing to properly prepare medications 
• Dispensing or administering the wrong medication
• Providing the wrong dose (overdose or under-dose)
• Incorrectly administering medication (e.g., intravenously instead of orally, etc.)
• Failing to review the side effects or possible drug interactions of a medication 
• Administering a new medication to a resident without informing the resident’s family

Nursing home staff could dispense the wrong dose to a resident by cutting pills that are not meant to be cut or by failing to properly read prescriptions. Nursing home doctors and nurses may prescribe the wrong medication or advise the incorrect dose. In some cases, caregivers may administer medications that are meant for another resident. All of these constitute medication mistakes—and all can have serious or even fatal consequences. 

How Do Medication Errors Happen? 

Studies show that the overall rate of medication errors caused by medication mismanagement in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities is increasing. 

There are many possible reasons for this, but some of the most common causes of medication errors in nursing homes include: 

• Lack of communication 
• Inadequate training 
• Inadequate staff 
• General negligence 
• Personnel issues 
• Failure to follow up with doctors and pharmacists 
• Miscalculating medication doses 
• Unsafe medication distribution 
• Lack of patient education
• Failure to obtain informed consent 

In many cases, medication errors are entirely preventable and occur only because one or multiple parties were careless. If you suspect this is what happened in your case, reach out to the Law Office of Tom Wagstaff Jr. right away to learn how we can help. 

Who Is Responsible for a Medication Error? 

Determining who is responsible for a medication error in a nursing home can be challenging, but our team has the necessary resources and experience to thoroughly investigate your claim. 

Depending on the unique circumstances of your case, any of the following parties could be partly or entirely liable for the error: 

• The nursing home or long-term care facility
• An on-staff or outside doctor, nurse, or another medical professional
• A staff member responsible for dispensing medication 
• A private caregiver 

In some cases, medication errors involve dangerous or defective pharmaceutical drugs. When this is the case, victims may have grounds for a claim against the drug manufacturer or pharmaceutical company.