Drugs Most Involved in Mechanical Error Claims

In 2000, at the request of DuPont Pharma, the manufacturer of Coumadin® brand of warfarin, Pharmacists Mutual repeated a study of drugs most often seen in professional liability claims.  In all previous studies warfarin had been the number one drug involved in claims.  DuPont was interested in publicizing the need of risk management to pharmacists across the country.  

Pharmacists Mutual designed this version of the study to look at "drugs delivered" in mechanical error claims. Warfarin, again, by a wide margin, proved to be the drug most involved in these claims. Many of the other drugs on this list are also extremely effective at what they are designed to do. This contributes to their being included on this list because patients notice the side effects when they occur. This list can serve as a starting point for your own risk management program.    

The chart below is the latest study, 1996 through 2009.  It shows the top drugs, or drug groups, as found in the Pharmacists Mutual Claims Study. 

Drugs Delivered in Mechanical Claims 1996-2009