Look-Alike Medication Packages and Patient Safety

J Patient Saf. 2018 Sep;14(3):e47-e48. doi: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000506.

Abstract

Medication errors substantially threaten patient safety, and their prevention requires clinical vigilance. We present a case of taking the wrong drug due to a dispensing error by pharmacists involving medication packaging confusion, and we report how we prevent similar dispensing errors by thorough investigation and intervention. This case emphasizes the need for constant attention by hospital, medical industry, and regulatory authorities to avoid look-alike medication packaging in the interest of medication safety.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Drug Packaging / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Errors / trends*
  • Patient Safety / standards*