• Between 44,000 and 98,000 people die every year as a result in medical errors. (IOM, 1999)
• Medical errors are more deadly than breast cancer, motor vehicle accidents, or AIDS. (IOM, 1999)
• Approximately 7,000 deaths occur each year and medication errors occur in just about 1 of every 5 doses given in hospitals. (The Prescription, 2005)
  
• The FDA states that there is at least one death per day and 1.3 million people are injured each year due to medication errors. (The Prescription, 2005)
• Medication error is one of the top ten causes for death among children. (Wrong Diagnosis, 2009)
• The most common type of medical error is a medication error.
• Medication errors harm 1 in every 15 children in US hospitals. (The Joint Commission, 2008)
• Children are the most vulnerable when it comes to medication errors because:
  
  
  • Most health care facilities are organized around adults.
  • Children are less able to tolerate a medication error.
  • Most medications are made and packaged for adults
  • Young children cannot communicate about adverse effects that they experience.

Dosing errors are the most common kind of medication error for children. Medication errors are more frequent among the most sick patients who have urgent and complex medical conditions. Physicians who are less experienced, tired, depressed, and burnt out make more errors. (Kozer, Adis International, 2009)

The single most important way to prevent medical errors is to be an active and vocal member of your health care team. You can do this by Speaking Up.