Reporting an adverse drug reaction helps the pharmacist, the drug company that manufactures the drug, and the patient. When pharmacists do not report these events, it can hamper issues of medication errors and do the patient more harm than good.

But why do pharmacists let adverse drug events go unreported? There are many factors involved, and some may surprise you.

Recently, Sao Paulo State University in Brazil examined 29 studies that were published over a period of 20 years. The studies were taken in 24 hospitals, included 22 physicians and involved 10 registered pharmacists. From this study, the researchers discovered and compiled the "seven deadly sins" when it comes to inadequately reporting adverse drug episodes.

  1. Complacency (believing that serious ADRs are well documented when the drug is released in the market)
  2. Fear of getting involved in a lawsuit (legal process)
  3. Guilt for having been responsible for the damage observed in the patient
  4. Ambition of group and publish case series or financial benefit
  5. Ignorance on how to describe the notification (believing that only serious and unexpected ADRs must be reported)
  6. Insecurity about reporting suspicions of ADR (belief that there should be notification only if there is certainty that the damage was caused by the use of specific medication)
  7. Indifference, that is, lack of interest, time or other excuses related to postponing the notification of damage due to drug use.

Reporting adverse drug events can make all the difference in the world when it comes to drug errors, indirect patient harm, or neglect. If physicians and pharmacists were better educated about the reporting of adverse drug events and drug analysis then there may be a better chance of adverse events getting reported properly.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages the reporting of these medication instances and also makes the process of reporting the event simple. Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals should also be aware of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the benefits of using the system. FAERS is a useful database that contains relevant information on adverse medication events and drug error reports sent to the FDA.

It should be noted, however, that reporting of ADRs is totally voluntary. This makes recording these drug errors even more important and adds to the responsibility of each and every pharmacist, pharmacy technician, doctor and/or nurse. More responsibility should fall on their shoulders in this area of patient care and well-being.

"The underreporting causes often informed by health professionals are related mainly to the low knowledge of concepts and processes related to pharmacovigilance and to indifference regarding this service," the study authors wrote. "Continuing education, easy access to the registration form and its simplification are strategies that can be developed to increase the strategies that can be developed to increase the registration rates of ADR."

Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals will hopefully take a more serious role in reporting ADRs. Patients' lives and safety depend upon it.