Todd Nesnick
Misunderstood labels on prescription medication can cause considerable damage, with up to 9,000 people dying every year owing to medication errors. A new bill presented in Washington is seeking to reduce the damage, by obligating pharmacies across the state to translate medical information (including prescription bottle directions), if necessary. The bill, created by medical students from Washington State University, aims to provide all labels in English plus a “readable language” for patients with limited proficiency in English.
Medication Errors a Serious Problem in the US
The FDA receives over 100,000 reports of medications every year in the US, with around 400,000 related injuries occurring. Moreover, numerous patients have to seek the aid of a medication error lawyer to compensate for the damage caused. The main causes of these errors include clinicians prescribing the wrong medication, medications being prepared in an erroneous manner, information being entered into a computer system wrongly, and patients taking medication in an erroneous manner. Misunderstood labels fall into the latter category, since a failure to understand how to take a medication (or how a particular medication can interact with others a patient is taking) can result in serious harm and can even be fatal.
What are the Consequences of Medication Errors?
Medication errors can have a wide range of serious effects, including disability, birth defects, hospitalizations, and even death. The FDA has made many efforts over the years to prevent medication errors. Strategies adopted have included using brand names, the use of labels that help healthcare providers and patients identify the right drug and the strength of the medication they are taking, and providing the patient with instructions for use that are clear and easy to read. The problem for those with limited English proficiency is that language that may seem clear to native English speakers may be confusing and may lead to errors in how the medication is taken.
What Does the New Bill Propose?
The bill proposes that medication vials should contain information such as the medication’s name, directions for use, and expiry date. The students who drafted the bill had discussed language-related issues surrounding medication with a coordinator at Refugee Connections, Spokane. The coordinator highlighted the fact that the bill is a matter based on gender equity as well. This is because many women with limited English proficiency do not feel comfortable asking the men in their family for help, since medications may be related to a personally sensitive matter. The students also found that although interpreters are sometimes provided during physician visits, patients are all alone when it comes to interacting with pharmacy staff and interpreting the instructions contained on their vials.
A new bill presented to the Senate in Washington seeks to obligate pharmacies across the state to translate medication such as prescription bottle directions if necessary. The bill hopes to reduce medical errors. It also seeks to provide patients with better gender equity.