Adverse Outpatient Drug Events — A Problem and an Opportunity

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Abstract
On the day I was asked to write this editorial, my 80-year-old father had a nearly fatal adverse drug event. His physicians had attributed the nonspecific symptoms to his Parkinson's disease and had increased his dose of levodopa–carbidopa. His physical and cognitive function continued to worsen, until hallucinations, chorioform movements, and blepharospasm characteristic of levodopa–carbidopa toxicity developed and he became bedridden. The drug was stopped, and his condition improved dramatically over the ensuing 48 hours; he became ambulatory and regained his base-line mental status. This incident had many of the typical features of adverse drug events. It involved an elderly . . .