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Reporting a Medication Error

How We Maintain Your Privacy

Welcome to ConsumerMedSafety.org, a website for consumers provided by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP).

ISMP is committed to protecting your privacy while using our website. In general, you can visit ConsumerMedSafety.org and use most of its functionality and tools without revealing any personal, identifiable information. However, you may choose to provide personal, identifiable information if you report medication errors and to gain access to some of our services. Any personal information you choose to provide, including your name, email address, and medications you take, will not be disclosed to anyone other than the staff at ISMP unless:

  • You provide prior consent
  • ISMP enters into an agreement with an analytics company to measure how visitors use our website (ISMP retains ownership of the data and controls how the data are used)
  • ISMP and a third party are involved with the sale, assignment, or other transfer of the business of this website, in which case we will require any such buyer to agree to treat such information in accordance with this Privacy Policy
  • ISMP is required to disclose such information by applicable laws, court orders, or government regulations

ISMP may disclose the errors reported on its website to third parties including, but not limited to, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) MedWatch program, the manufacturer or labeler of a particular medication, or the manufacturer of a medical device. However, all personally identifiable information, including your name and email address, will be redacted or removed, unless permission is granted by you to disclose such information.

For additional information, please read our Privacy Policy, which provides additional information about our practices regarding collection, use, and disclosure of information that you may provide to us via this website.

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More Safety Articles

Lost in Translation

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Not All Capsules Are Meant to Be Swallowed

There are some medicines used to treat breathing problems that come as powder-filled capsules. The powder inside is meant to be inhaled into the lungs using a special device. The powder is ineffective if the capsule is swallowed intact. 

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Arm fracture caused by a medication safety cap

Do you or someone you know have a history of bone disease and easily prone to fractured bones? Medication bottles with safety caps are designed to protect children from accidental ingestion, but, on occasion, can contribute to patient harm. An elderly patient with multiple myeloma (a type of bone cancer) suffered a spiral fracture of the right arm while trying to remove the child-resistant cap on her medication bottle. The act of pushing down and twisting broke the weakened bone and caused the fracture.

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“Direct-to-consumer” medicine ads: Be cautious

If you watch television, flip through magazines or newspapers, surf online, or listen to the radio, you are probably familiar with “direct-to-consumer” advertisements (ads) for prescription medicines. The US and New Zealand are the only two developed countries that allow drug companies to advertise prescription medicines directly to the public. These ads are popular with new medicines that treat chronic conditions such as diabetes and insomnia. In fact, 8 of the top 10 selling medicines in the US currently broadcast or publish at least one “direct-to-consumer” ad portraying happy and satisfied patients. It’s a big business, with drug companies spending an estimated $6.5 billion on “direct-to-consumer” ads in 2016 alone.

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