The readiness of the medicines for the prevention and combat to diseases makes the medicine therapy the main instrument of medical practice in the individuals' treatment for recovery of health. Although they are recognized as effective, minimizing suffering and curing people, they can also represent serious risks for health, especially when used in an inadequate way. Consequently, the user's safety in the process of using medicines, seeking the reduction of damages and predictable injuries, should be a priority in the health services. Considering that more than half of all of the medication mistakes happen in the apprenticeship of prescription of medicine, the adoption of mechanisms that alerts the doctor during the prescription can have a positive impact in the reduction of the total number of adverse events associated to medicines and in the expenses with the health service. The adoption of electronic systems in medicine prescription as a support to the clinical decision can significantly reduce the occurrence of adverse events related to medicines, improving the quality and efficiency of the pharmacological treatment.
Medication mistakes; Side effects; Medicine interactions