Medication Errors in Pediatric Hospital Medicine: A Critical Patient Safety Issue

Medication errors represent one of the most significant patient safety challenges in pediatric hospital medicine, with error rates substantially exceeding those seen in adult populations. These errors span the entire medication use process — from prescribing and transcription to dispensing and administration — and are driven by factors unique to pediatric care.

Pediatric inpatients have an approximately threefold higher rate of potential adverse drug events than adults, while the preventable-ADE (actual-harm) rate has been reported as similar to adults (Kaushal et al., JAMA 2001). Reported medication error rates in pediatric emergency departments range from 10% to 31% (Benjamin et al., Pediatrics 2018). Weight-based dosing, lack of standardized formulations, and frequent care transitions drive these elevated risks.

Patient Safety · 12 min read · Ralph D. Martello, MD, pediatric hospitalist and medical expert witness.