A handwritten MD ’ bank bill is the frequent buttocks of jokes , but a new aesculapian caseful study is showing how this old cliché could potentially spell real danger for patient role .
A adult female in Scotland was accidentally given erectile dysfunction emollient rather of eye ointment for dry eyes because the chemist misinterpret the Dr. ’s tawdry script , as elaborated inBMJ Case Reportslast month .
It ’s jolly easy to see how the fuckup came about . The erectile dysfunction cream is called “ Vitaros ” and the ocular lubricant is called “ VitA - POS.“The computer error was not spotted by the GP , apothecary or the patient role , so she cease up apply the cream to her eyes .
The active ingredient in theerectile dysfunction creamis alprostadil , a by nature occur chemical substance that dilates blood vessels . When applied to the hide ( or , you love , the member ) it will increase rake flow to the area . However , as you could imagine , it can acutely irritate the eye .
luckily , she made a full recovery with some simple treatment of topical antibiotic , steroid hormone , and lubricants , but the mild chemical substance wound still caused her to suffer from eye botheration , blurred vision , redness , and swollen eyes .
" We would like to raise awareness that medications with interchangeable spellings be , " Dr Magdalena Edington of the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology in Glasgow wrote in the compositor’s case discipline . " We encourage prescribers to ensure that handwritten prescriptions are print in block capital letter to obviate similar scenario in the hereafter . "
Do n’t vex , she did also luff out the obvious , which you are all no doubt think : " It is strange in this instance that no individual ( including the affected role , general practitioner or dispensing pharmacist ) questioned cavernous disfunction emollient being prescribed to a female patient , with opthalmic diligence instructions . ”
The study authors say they thought this was an crucial issue to get up in a case study , to promote cognizance and safe prescribing skills . These kinds of misplay happen a surprising amount , occasionally with deadly event . Last twelvemonth , a reportfound that health care professional in England make around 237 million prescription screw ups each twelvemonth , such as providing patient with the wrong medicament or prescribing the faulty pane . It even hint that these errors are responsible for for 700 demise each year , and could play a significant factor in the deaths up to 22,300 others .
