02/05/2026
The "Right Drug" is one of the core principles in the Five Rights of Medication Administration, a standard safety protocol used by healthcare professionals to prevent medical errors. It mandates that the administering clinician must strictly verify that the medication given to a patient exactly matches the physician's order or the Medication Administration Record (MAR). To achieve this, the clinician must double-check the label on the drug's packaging against the order at least three times before delivery. They must also remain highly vigilant regarding "look-alike" or "sound-alike" medication names to eliminate the risk of administering a completely incorrect substance. Ensuring the right drug also requires verifying the correct form (such as liquid vs. tablet) and confirming that the medication has not expired.
