June 7, 2016: SafeMedicationUse.ca Newsletter -
Misconceptions about Medicines That Could Be Deadly: Part 3
In this, the final instalment of our series discussing common misconceptions about medicines, we describe a tragic incident in which sharing of a medicine led to a person's death. The misconceptions described in this series were identified through an analysis of errors that happened in a person's home or that involved medicines given by a person who did not have professional healthcare training.Misconception Three: What works for me will work for you.
When a family member or friend suffers from a health problem, it's natural to want to help. If you've taken a medicine that helped you with a similar problem in the past, you may be tempted to offer the person the same medicine. The following case illustrates how well-intentioned sharing can lead to tragic results. Read more...
