FDA to Address Medication Error Problem

The Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 1.5 million preventable medication errors occur each year. As a medication error lawyer, I have seen first hand how these mistakes cause injury. Apparently, the new FDA Commissioner, Margaret Hamburg M.D. has decided to try and do something about. On November 4, 2009, she announced the "FDA's Safe Use Initiative" to reduce preventable harm from medications. Details of the initiative are outlined in a special FDA report.

Highlights of the initiative include the agency seeking input form the healthcare community, patient groups, and other interested stakeholders to identify the most serious mediation error problems and solutions to those problems. As part of the process the FDA will hold a series of public hearings over the next 12 months to seek input. As problems are identified appropriate interventions will be announced. To read more about the program, follow the link to an article written by Mathew Perrone of the Associated Press