Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Hold NJ Facilities Accountable for Failure to Properly Medicate

In New Jersey nursing homes, doctors are often under intense pressure to see as many nursing home patients as possible during a limited period of time. This can lead to careless mistakes and medication errors. Additionally, far too many nursing home employees lack proper training in pharmacology, which can result in serious medication errors. When this happens, the consequences can be catastrophic because many elderly residents are already in fragile health.

Barry Sugarman is passionate about protecting elderly individuals against nursing home negligence. Mr. Sugarman assists victims of medication errors throughout New Jersey, from Atlantic County to Hudson County and everywhere in between. He has secured millions of dollars for his clients in nursing home negligence cases. You can read about some of his successful verdicts and settlements here.

How Do Medication Errors Occur in NJ Nursing Homes?

There are myriad causes of nursing home injuries, including failure to properly medicate, failure to properly treat medical conditions and failure to accommodate special needs. Examples of failing to properly medicate include:

Wrong dosage: Too much or not enough medication can cause major problems.
Administration of the wrong medication
Administering the wrong form of drug product
Providing medication that is the wrong product strength
Giving medication to the patient at the wrong time. Certain medications require the user to stick to a tight schedule.
Delivering medication to the wrong patient
Administering medication that has expired
Failing to properly measure liquid medications
Failure to shake certain medications prior to administering them
Crushing certain medications
Failing to ensure that the patient takes certain medications with food. Some medications also require the patient to take an antacid.
Failure to check for patient’s allergies before administering medication
Failing to sufficiently monitor the patient after administering the drug
Nursing home employee diverts or steals patient’s medications

Medication errors are often the result of nursing home staff negligence. Some of the specific causes of failure to medicate include:

Handwriting errors can result in the administration of an incorrect dosage of medication.
Negligent hiring practices result in nurses lacking advanced skill sets needed to properly administer medication.
Nursing home staff is poorly trained
Insufficient number of nursing home employees
Nursing home employees are overworked and prone to mistakes
Nursing home employees encounter frequent distractions
Medication is administered right after a shift change
Nursing home staff communicates poorly with one another and with residents
Drug product is improperly labeled
Nursing home staff is confused by illegible handwriting
Pharmacy error
Lab work mistake

Nursing home staff and caregivers should take certain steps to make sure elderly residents receive the care they deserve. Nursing home staff needs to follow guidelines for properly dispensing medications. Additionally, nurses and aides in a skilled nursing facility should be properly trained to recognize the signs of an adverse drug event. When a medication problem occurs, nursing home employees need to notify a physician as soon as possible.

Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers Seek Compensation for Victims of Nursing Home Medication Errors in New Jersey

If your elderly loved one has suffered as a result of a medication error, the situation may call for urgent action. Medication mistakes can be fatal and result in wrongful death if not recognized and treated immediately. As a result, you should always look for the signs of abuse or neglect. If you observe your loved one suffering an adverse reaction to medication, do not hesitate to alert medical professionals. Your next step should be to contact an experienced nursing home negligence lawyer for assistance.

Sugarman Law is a highly respected law firm with lawyers who have been protecting victims of nursing home neglect and abuse since 1991. Mr. Sugarman has two office locations, in Marlton and Somerville, so that he can better serve all of New Jersey. Call him today to discuss your case, or email him to arrange a free consultation.

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