Children at Higher Risk for Medical Errors
Posted by
Amanda SchlagerSeptember 22, 2008 9:29 AMAlthough medical errors are common in both children and adults, the consequences of these mistakes can be more serious in children, according to doctors.
Pediatrics, a medical journal, published a study in April that found 11 percent of children suffered from problems due to medications while in the hospital, and 22 percent of these errors were preventable.
These errors pose a greater risk to children for several reasons. Children’s bodies are physically smaller than those of adults so errors can have a greater proportional effect. Furthermore, vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, and immune system develop during childhood. A child’s limited communication skills also make it more difficult for him or her to describe how they are feeling. In turn, this makes determining the correct diagnosis complex.
While children are the victim of numerous mistakes including diagnostic errors and incorrect tests and procedures, they are most commonly affected by errors involving medication dosage.
Adult medications are prepackaged and have standardized doses. However, pediatric medications vary and are determined by a child’s weight and height. Because these medications require case-specific calculations, they are more susceptible to errors.
Dr. Angood of the Joint Commission argues that “there needs to be more medications specifically manufactured for the pediatric population.” Actor Denis Quaid’s newborn twins nearly died after being injected with nearly 1,000 times the recommended dosage of blood thinner for children just last year.
To prevent these types of mistakes from happening to you, follow these safety precautions the next time you visit the doctor:
1. Make sure your child wears his or her ID bracelet at all times while in the hospital.
2. Schedule a time every day to review your child’s medications with your physician.
3. Make sure a pediatric specialist treats your child if he is very sick. You can also request that your child be moved to a children’s hospital.
4. Always carry a list of your child’s medications with you and check for allergies and conflicts before starting any new medication.
5. Be familiar with your child’s medications so that you can recognize potential and complications or reactions.