Medication Mismanagement in Nursing Homes: The Hidden Risk of Overmedication and Under-Medication
When families entrust their loved ones to nursing homes, they expect proper care, especially in administering medications. However, medication errors are a serious and often overlooked form of nursing home abuse and negligence. These errors, ranging from overmedication to failing to provide essential prescriptions, can lead to severe health complications, and in some cases, even death.
This blog will explore how medication mismanagement occurs in nursing homes and the legal options available for families impacted by such negligence.
Types of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
Medication errors in nursing homes can take many forms, each of which puts residents at risk of serious harm. Some common types include:
- Overmedication: This occurs when residents are given higher doses of medication than prescribed. Overmedication is particularly dangerous for elderly residents who may already have weakened immune systems or other health conditions. Overmedicating residents can result in cognitive impairments, confusion, excessive drowsiness, or even fatal consequences.
- Under-medication: Failing to administer the correct dosage of a prescribed medication can have equally harmful effects. For example, under-dosing a resident’s heart medication can lead to strokes or heart attacks. Similarly, under-medicating a resident with chronic pain can result in prolonged suffering.
- Incorrect medication: In busy nursing homes, staff may administer the wrong medication to a resident. Given the number of medications elderly residents often take, this can lead to harmful drug interactions, allergic reactions, or worsening of the resident’s condition.
- Missed doses: When nursing home staff are stretched too thin, they may miss scheduled doses of important medications. For residents who rely on consistent medication schedules to manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, missed doses can have life-threatening consequences.
- Improper administration: Even if the right medication is given at the correct dose, improper administration can still lead to errors. This might include crushing pills that shouldn’t be crushed or failing to follow specific instructions, like giving medication with food.
How Medication Errors Occur in NursingHomes
Medication mismanagement in nursing homes often stems from a combination of factors, many of which are preventable with proper oversight and care. Some of the leading causes of medication errors include:
- Understaffing: One of the most significant causes of medication errors is understaffing. When nursing homes are short on staff, workers are stretched thin, leading to rushed or careless administration of medication. In some cases, this results in residents missing doses or receiving incorrect medication.
- Inadequate training: Nursing home staff, particularly those who are unlicensed or inexperienced, may not have adequate training to administer medications correctly. This can result in misreading labels, failing to recognize dangerous drug interactions, or administering medications improperly.
- Poor communication: Medication errors can also occur due to communication breakdowns between doctors, nurses, and caregivers. For example, if a doctor adjusts a resident’s medication, but the nursing home staff is not informed promptly, the resident may continue to receive the wrong dosage.
- Failure to monitor residents: Many residents in nursing homes require regular monitoring after receiving medications to ensure they respond well and avoid side effects. Failing to provide this necessary oversight can lead to harmful consequences, especially if a medication is not working as expected.
The Consequences of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
The effects of medication mismanagement can range from minor health issues to life-threatening complications. Some of the most common consequences include:
- Worsening of medical conditions: For residents who rely on medications to manage chronic health conditions, under-medication or missed doses can cause their conditions to deteriorate. For example, missing a dose of insulin for a diabetic resident can lead to dangerous spikes in blood sugar levels.
- Severe side effects: Overmedicating or giving the wrong medication can result in severe side effects. Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable to adverse reactions, which may include confusion, dizziness, respiratory problems, or even organ failure.
- Decreased quality of life: Medication errors often leave residents suffering from untreated pain, cognitive decline, or unnecessary drowsiness, all of which contribute to a diminished quality of life.
- Fatal outcomes: In the worst cases, medication errors can be fatal. Overdoses, untreated medical conditions, or dangerous drug interactions can result in life-threatening situations for residents.
Legal Options for Families Affected by Nursing Home Medication Errors
When a loved one is injured or dies due to a medication error in a nursing home, families have the right to take legal action. A nursing home abuse lawyer can help investigate the case, determine liability, and seek compensation for the harm caused.
Here’s what you can expect if you decide to move forward with a nursing home abuse and neglect claim:
- Investigating the nursing home’s practices: A nursing home abuse lawyer will thoroughly investigate how the medication error occurred. This may involve reviewing medical records, interviewing staff, and examining the nursing home’s staffing and training procedures.
- Filing a claim: If negligence or abuse is uncovered, the lawyer can help file a claim against the nursing home for damages. This claim may seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in cases of fatal errors, wrongful death.
- Holding nursing homes accountable: Taking legal action is not only about seeking compensation for your loved one’s suffering, but it’s also about holding the nursing home accountable for their negligence. This can encourage better care practices and prevent similar errors from happening to other residents.
New Jersey Laws on Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence
New Jersey’s laws provide protections for nursing home residents to ensure they receive proper care, including the correct administration of medications. Nursing homes are required by law to provide a safe environment and meet the standard of care expected in the industry.
Under New Jersey’s Nursing Home Residents’ Bill of Rights, residents have the right to receive proper medical care and treatment, free from abuse and neglect. If a nursing home violates these rights by causing harm through medication errors, they can be held legally responsible.
How a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
If you suspect that your loved one has been injured due to a medication error in a nursing home, it’s important to consult with a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer can:
- Evaluate the case: A lawyer will review the details of the incident to determine whether the nursing home was negligent in administering medications.
- Gather evidence: Your lawyer will gather the necessary evidence, such as medical records and witness testimony, to build a strong case against the nursing home.
- Negotiate a settlement or go to trial: If the nursing home is found liable, your lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement. If an agreement cannot be reached, they will represent you in court.
Contact Sugarman Law for Help with Medication Errors in New Jersey Nursing Homes
If your loved one has suffered due to a medication error in a nursing home, Sugarman Law is here to help. We are committed to holding negligent nursing homes in New Jersey accountable for their actions and securing the justice your family deserves.
Call us at 1-866-657-5660 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation. Let us help protect your loved one’s rights and ensure they receive the care they deserve at their nursing home or assisted living facility.
