UNCLEAR DOSE EQUALS TOXIC DOSE

Medication errors are a significant public health issue. Their frequen cy and severity are currently under increased scrutiny from many persp ectives. In 1996, the National Coordinating Council for Medication Err or Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP) was established to promote the r eporting, understanding, and prevention of medication errors. NCCMERP has published prescription writing recommendations to remedy error-pro ne aspects of prescription writing. An example of a hazardously writte n medication order and its possible toxicity is provided.