Morphine Overdose Caused by a Prescription Error – Can I Claim?

Morphine is a powerful opioid used to treat severe pain. Used correctly, it is an important and effective medicine. Given in excessive quantities, however, morphine can be dangerous.

If you or a family member has suffered an accidental morphine overdose because the wrong dose was prescribed, dispensed or administered, there may be grounds to investigate a medical negligence claim.

What happens if somebody is given too much morphine?

The NHS warns that taking more than the prescribed dose of morphine can be dangerous.

Serious adverse effects can include slowed breathing or difficulty breathing, while other effects can include sleepiness, dizziness and confusion.

An excessive opioid dose can therefore become a medical emergency.

How can a morphine medication error happen?

A morphine error could potentially involve:

• an incorrect dose being prescribed;
• an incorrect dose being administered in hospital;
• the wrong strength being dispensed;
• confusion between different morphine preparations;
• an error converting from another opioid;
• inappropriate frequency of administration;
• a modified-release medicine being used incorrectly; or
• another patient’s medication being supplied.

Particular care can be required when converting patients between different opioid medicines. NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service guidance recommends careful titration and monitoring following conversion.

Modified-release morphine errors

The formulation of morphine can be important as well as the numerical dose.

Some preparations are designed to release morphine gradually. Cambridge University Hospitals warns, for example, that breaking, crushing or chewing certain long-acting morphine tablets can cause medicine intended to be released over 12 hours to be absorbed rapidly, creating a risk of breathing difficulties and overdose.

The precise medication involved must therefore be identified when investigating an alleged overdose.

Is a morphine overdose automatically medical negligence?

No.

The fact that somebody experienced an adverse reaction does not itself establish negligence.

A claim generally requires evidence that the prescribing, dispensing or administration fell below an acceptable professional standard and that the error caused an injury.

This distinction is important because patients receiving morphine may already be seriously ill or injured. Expert evidence may be required to separate the consequences of the medication error from the patient’s underlying condition.

What injuries could potentially be claimed?

Depending upon the circumstances, these might include:

• respiratory complications;
• loss of consciousness;
• additional hospital treatment;
• intensive care admission;
• recognised psychological injury following a serious overdose;
• prolonged recovery; or
• death.

Compensation can also potentially include associated financial losses, care, rehabilitation and loss of earnings.

Pharmacy dispensed the wrong morphine dose

A correctly written prescription does not necessarily mean that the medicine ultimately supplied was correct.

If a pharmacy dispenses the wrong strength or preparation and the patient is injured as a consequence, there may be grounds for a pharmacy dispensing error claim.

Keep the packaging and remaining medication wherever possible.

Morphine prescription error solicitors

If you believe you or somebody close to you has suffered an injury after being given too much morphine or an incorrect opioid dose, Hutcheon Law can investigate the circumstances.

Read more about our medication error claims 

This article provides general information about the law in England and Wales. It is not a substitute for individual legal or medical advice. Patients should not stop or alter prescribed medication without appropriate medical guidance.