Medication Mistakes in New Mexico Nursing Homes

Elderly Americans living in nursing home facilities are some of the most vulnerable members of our society today—and as such are frequent targets of abuse and exploitation. Shockingly, as many as 1in 6 Americans aged 65 and older are abused or neglected, and the great majority of victims will never formally report their abuse (many are actually incapable of doing so). Nursing home negligence is a form of elder abuse that occurs when nursing home residents receive substandard care that fails to meet their basic needs. One of the most common forms of New Mexico nursing home negligence involves medication errors, which can result in serious injury or even death. If medication mistakes in New Mexico nursing homes have affected you or your loved one in New Mexico—or if you want to learn more about this growing problem facing our state—then read on to learn more about this type of New Mexico senior abuse.

Medication mistakes are shockingly common. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that a staggering 1.3 million people in America are hurt due to medication errors every year.

There are many types of medication errors that can occur in nursing homes that can be considered a form of nursing home negligence. The most common medication error that occurs in nursing home settings (besides medication being given at the wrong time) is the omission of a needed medication, but there are many different types of errors that may occur. These include:

• Administering the incorrect medication
• Administering an incorrect dose of the medication
• A resident is given medication that they have an allergy to, which was indicated in their medical chart
• A resident is medicated against their will or is overmedicated
• A resident isn’t informed of their medication’s side effects
• A resident isn’t given their medicine on schedule or on a regular basis
• A resident is denied access to needed medications

It’s important to note that transitions in care—such as moving from one long term care facility to another—increases the likelihood of medication errors caused by incomplete or improperly transferred medical charts.

If your loved one has been subjected to any form of New Mexico nursing home negligence—including but not limited to injuries caused by medication errors—then it is important to consult with a qualified lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your next steps.

Here at Carabin Shaw, our nursing home negligence lawyers serving New Mexico have been successfully handling negligence claims for more than two decades, and our team has a combined 200 years of legal experience. We strive to treat each and every client with the utmost care, professionalism, and respect. That’s why our law firm was named by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as one of the top ten best Texas personal injury firms in 2018 based on client satisfaction.

Our compassionate and dedicated attorneys are passionate about defending victims of abuse and their families, and we want to help you get the compensation you deserve so that you can move forward and heal. So if you’re ready to find out what the right attorney can do for you, call our Carabin Shaw office serving New Mexico today at 915-779-2301. We offer all new clients a no cost, no obligation consultation, so you have nothing to lose by speaking with a lawyer today about your potential New Mexico nursing home negligence claim and finding out how we can help.