Abstract
Medication errors that lead to iatrogenic injuries are a well-known worldwide phenomenon and are common, costly, and clinically important.[1],[2] In 1910, Richard Clark published the first study that looked at error rates in clinical diagnosis.[3] Since then, several studies have looked at the problem of medication errors. Incidence rates of adverse drug events amongst adults admitted to the hospital have ranged from 2 to 7 per 100 admissions.[4],[5] Approximately, 28% of adverse drug events (ADEs) are related to medication errors and are, therefore, judged to be preventable.[6] This issue has also received considerable attention in the lay press. Over a period of time, there has been a transition from an era where medical practice and its practitioners were revered to a time when doubt and fear is expressed and legal suits are pursued by aggreived patients.[7] Heightened awareness of the problem of iatrogenic error has also resulted from the publication from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) "To Err is Human- Building a Safer Health system" released in 2000 wherein it was estimated that about 44,000 to 98,000 preventable deaths each year result from medical errors.[8]
In the present issue of the journal, two papers have addressed the issue of medication errors directly and indirectly. Rataboli et al [9] in an interesting study have analysed look-alike and sound-alike brands of drugs available in the Indian market. They have based their study on the list of drugs mentioned in the Indian Drug Review and Monthly Review of Medical Specialities and some brands that are not listed in the two books, but are available with the chemists. They have systematically divided these drugs into twelve different categories based on the nature of the drug, the dosage form, the similarities and the manufacturer. The classification is based on visual similarity in names, phonetic similarity or similarity in the looks. The 12 categories are those in which prescribing errors can result with some categories being more harmful than the others. The study is of importance in a country like India, where a choice needs to be made not only from 11 angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for example, but also probably 11 or more brands of each of the ACE inhibitors! Another study by Patel et al in the same issue of the journal has looked at the quality of prescriptions in Goa in western India.[10] It is noteworthy that single issue of the journal is carrying two original articles on this subject, a topic that has not been studied or reviewed regularly by healthcare professionals in this country.
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