Could Prescription Data Mining Lead to Drug Errors?

It is estimated that every year, 1.5 million Americans are injured by drug errors. These medication mistakes include overdoses, mix-ups and adverse drug interactions. Some of these critical medication errors occur during the prescription process.

Pharmaceutical companies have been known to engage in a practice called “prescription data mining,” meaning these manufacturers are watching doctors’ prescription habits. The pharmaceutical companies then use this information to tailor their marketing messages and to push alternative medications that they also produce. This practice has many government officials and patient advocates concerned about the impact it could have on the decision process of doctors.

Since it is has been discovered that many drug errors happen during the prescription phase, it makes you wonder what type of effect prescription data mining has on patients and whether it increases the number of medication mistake cases. Many safety experts are worried that when sales tactics are keyed to doctor’s prescribing preference, it could distort decision making, especially since doctors sometimes do not take the time to evaluate studies. There is concern that doctors may make a decision to prescribe a medication based on non-medical reasons, such as the availability of free samples or other inducements.

Doctors must take the time to carefully review drugs that are prescribed to their patients. When a physician cuts corners and does not look into potential drug interactions or other possible problems with a medication, the patient is the one who suffers.

If you have been injured from a drug error, you need to seek legal advice. You should contact the experienced Manhattan medical malpractice lawyers at the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445 for answers to your legal questions. A New York medical malpractice case could entitle you to compensation for your injuries, including medical expenses, lost income and additional damages.