May 16, 2025 From Bogoroch & Associates
Medication Errors: A Preventable Threat in Canadian Healthcare
Each year, thousands of Canadians are harmed by something that should help them—medication. Whether it’s the wrong dosage, an incorrect drug, or a failure to monitor adverse reactions, medication errors are a hidden but significant source of injury, hospitalization, and even death.
What Is a Medication Error?
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) defines a medication error as a “preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm.” These mistakes can happen at any point in the medication process: prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administering, or monitoring.
Where and How Do Medication Errors Happen?
- Prescribing Stage:
- Wrong drug or dosage
- Misdiagnosis or failure to check allergies
- Transcribing Stage:
- Errors inputting handwritten prescriptions into digital systems
- Confusion over abbreviations or illegible notes
- Dispensing Stage:
- Wrong medication or incorrect label
- Confusion between similar drug names or packaging
- Administration Stage:
- Delivered to the wrong patient or via the wrong route (e.g., oral vs. IV)
- Distracted or fatigued staff
- Monitoring Stage:
- Failure to watch for interactions or adverse effects
- Missing lab tests or follow-ups
Every stage introduces opportunities for mistakes—especially in high-pressure environments like emergency rooms.
Common and Dangerous Medication Errors
- Wrong Dose or Strength: Particularly dangerous in children and older adults, often caused by unit miscalculations or incorrect weight-based dosing.
- Wrong Medication: Look-alike/sound-alike drug names (e.g., Celebrex vs. Celexa) are common culprits.
- Incorrect Route: Administering a drug via the wrong route can drastically change its effect—and in some cases, be fatal.
Root Causes: More Than Just Human Error
While it’s easy to point to individual mistakes, most medication errors arise from systemic issues:
- Communication Breakdowns: During shift changes or incomplete patient histories
- High-Stress Environments: Emergency departments, ICU units, and surgical suites see more errors due to multitasking, fatigue, and time pressure
- Inadequate Safety Protocols: When double-checks, alerts, or scanning systems are ignored, errors slip through
Prevention Is Possible—If the Systems Work
Some best practices that reduce errors include:
- Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing): Minimizes handwriting and transcription issues
- Barcode Scanning Systems: Verifies medication matches the patient and prescription
- Independent Double-Checks: Especially for high-risk drugs or pediatric doses
- Education & Ongoing Training: Regular refreshers for staff on common drug mix-ups and protocol changes
However, none of these work unless they’re used consistently—and unfortunately, that’s often where the system fails.
Medication errors may be underreported, but they are far from rare—and for the patients who suffer because of them, the impact is life-altering. While technology and training can help, accountability and consistent application are essential.
At Malpractice Check, we are dedicated to providing honest, unbiased opinions on medical malpractice concerns. Whether you’re seeking peace of mind or preparing to present your case to a lawyer, our trusted experts are here to help you navigate the complexities of healthcare errors with professionalism, compassion, and integrity. Contact us today to learn more.