Study Reveals Startling Statistics: 1 out of 10 children harmed by hospital drug errors

A new study found 11 per cent of hospitalized children in the U.S. were given wrong drugs or accidental overdoses. Researchers also noted that 22 per cent of these medical errors were preventable.

While we've been covering celebrity-turned-patient-safety advocate Dennis Quaid's Crusade with patient safety--and the incidents with his newborns being accidentally overdosed--a study is shining light that points to preventable medication errors in newborns as a MUCH larger issue than once thought. The new study found about 11 per cent of hospitalized children in the U.S. were given wrong drugs, or too much of a certain drug.

According to Digital Journal: "Published in the April issue of Pediatrics, the study  (PDF located here) reported 11 drug-related harmful incidents for every 100 hospitalized children. That new statistic is much higher than the earlier estimate of two per 100 hospitalized kids. According to government data, the new data reveals medical errors affecting roughly 540,000 kids per year.

The study’s authors, largely from Children's Hospital Los Angeles, also wrote: Most adverse drug events resulted in temporary harm, and 22 per cent were classified as preventable. "

Full post here. PDF of full study located here