When seeking treatment, a patient likely expects that their health care provider will consider their medical history when designing a treatment plan for them. Unfortunately, mistakes can happen.
In the hustle and bustle of the health care industry, it is possible that health care providers fail to keep track of a patient’s medical history. This can lead to a mix-up when a doctor prescribes medication. The results can be devastating.
Allergic reactions can be deadly
Doctors and nurses regularly ask patients if they are allergic to any medications. Once a patient discloses this information, health care providers must take this into account when working out treatments.
If a doctor prescribes you medication that you are allergic to, even if you told them about your medical history, you could experience a severe allergic reaction and go into anaphylactic shock once you take the drug.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- Closing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe
- Swelling of the mouth and tongue
- Coughing and wheezing
- Fainting
- Hives or itchy rashes
- Stomach cramps
The symptoms can happen within just minutes of taking medication, which triggers an allergic reaction. These can cause death.
You can advocate for your health
Even though health care professionals must be responsible for the treatment they provide and get your informed consent, you can be proactive and advocate for your own health. You could:
- Reiterate your medical history and allergy information to your health care providers
- Verify that the prescribed medication is safe for you to take
- Confirm that the medication you receive is the correct one for you
If a health care professional asks for your medical history but prescribes medication that is unsafe for you to take, it could be a case of medical malpractice. You could take legal action to recover damages caused by the error.