Ethics Case Study
Ethics: Health Care and Social Responsibility
HCS/335
Ethics Case Study
Instructor: David Moody
Sara Godbey
June 24, 2013
Medical laws have been put into place to protect not only the patient, but also the physicians, nurses, and medical office staff. The laws were put into place to ensure that these professionals follow the correct procedures and steps that only qualified persons follow. The definition of practicing medicine has also been clearly explained. Those professionals who do not abide by these set laws are therefore subject to punishment by law (Baxter 2005).
Jerry has only trained as a medical assistant and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), so he is not qualified to give prescriptions. If Jerry had been directly instructed by Dr. William to call in a refill, it would be okay to do so. It would also be okay for Jerry to call in the refill if there was an existing standing order for the refill on the patient’s chart. You can’t simply call in a refill on a prescription because the patient is a good friend of Dr. William’s. Only a physician, clinical pharmacist, dentist, surgeon or a podiatrist, who has a license to practice, can give prescriptions to a patient. The patient in this case has specified that Dr. Williams gives him a valium prescription as a friend and not as a doctor so if Jerry were to call in his refill, he would be exposing himself and Dr. William’s to the risk of a malpractice case (Fremgen 2009).
It does not make a difference if the medication that was requested was for the control of high blood pressure instead. It would only be appropriate for Jerry to call in a refill for such a case if there was a standing order for the refill of the Valium. Even if the patient critically needs the medication on a daily basis, it would not be appropriate for Jerry to call in a prescription because it is against the law to do so. If Jerry was to call in a prescription and the patient were to have an adverse reaction, Jerry would only be
HCS/335
Ethics Case Study
Instructor: David Moody
Sara Godbey
June 24, 2013
Medical laws have been put into place to protect not only the patient, but also the physicians, nurses, and medical office staff. The laws were put into place to ensure that these professionals follow the correct procedures and steps that only qualified persons follow. The definition of practicing medicine has also been clearly explained. Those professionals who do not abide by these set laws are therefore subject to punishment by law (Baxter 2005).
Jerry has only trained as a medical assistant and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), so he is not qualified to give prescriptions. If Jerry had been directly instructed by Dr. William to call in a refill, it would be okay to do so. It would also be okay for Jerry to call in the refill if there was an existing standing order for the refill on the patient’s chart. You can’t simply call in a refill on a prescription because the patient is a good friend of Dr. William’s. Only a physician, clinical pharmacist, dentist, surgeon or a podiatrist, who has a license to practice, can give prescriptions to a patient. The patient in this case has specified that Dr. Williams gives him a valium prescription as a friend and not as a doctor so if Jerry were to call in his refill, he would be exposing himself and Dr. William’s to the risk of a malpractice case (Fremgen 2009).
It does not make a difference if the medication that was requested was for the control of high blood pressure instead. It would only be appropriate for Jerry to call in a refill for such a case if there was a standing order for the refill of the Valium. Even if the patient critically needs the medication on a daily basis, it would not be appropriate for Jerry to call in a prescription because it is against the law to do so. If Jerry was to call in a prescription and the patient were to have an adverse reaction, Jerry would only be
References: Fremgen, B.F. (2009). Medical law and ethics (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall