Ten Commandments to Reduce Medication Errors in Pediatrics Thou shalt print legibly or use a computer in writing a prescription. Thou shalt write the weight of the child in your prescription. Thou shalt not use abbreviations for the name of the drug or dose. Thou shalt specify the exact dose of the medication, how, and when it should be given. Thou shalt avoid terminal zeros to the right of the decimal point. Thou shalt use zero to the left of the decimal point if giving less than one  milligram. Thou shalt use CPOE in your hospital. Thou shalt use a bar code system to identify patients and their medications. Thou shalt explain to the patient the common and serious side effects of the medication. Thou shalt check what other medications the patient taking including OTC, vitamins, and herbs. Home   10 Commandments to Reduce Overweight   10 Commandments to Reduce Cognitive Errors   10 Commandments to Have a Smart Child   10 Commandments to Reduce Medication Errors in Pediatrics   10 Facts on Overweight   10 Facts on Inactivity and Sitting watching TV   10 Commandments to Reduce Diagnostic Errors Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP, Assistant Clinical Professor in Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston;  Attending Pediatrician, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, Maine. Copyright Leo Leonidas 2003

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