Summary Of The Robert Courtney Case

Rights and Expectations of a Patient in Healthcare The rights and expectations of a patient in healthcare can be attributed to the concept of contractual law. When a patient enters agreement with a healthcare professional, the patient is thereby interchanging money for healthcare services. Therefore, the duty of the healthcare professional is to provide the patient with high-quality health care in return. However, the National Health Council Board of Directors created an official list of rights and responsibilities of patients. This committee noted that patient “have the right to informed consent in treatment decisions, timely access to specialty care, and confidentiality protection” (Principles Of Patients’ Rights And Responsibilities, 1995).
In addition, the responsibilities of patient are to live a healthy lifestyle, comprehending possible treatment options, and partaking in their healthcare decision-making (Principles Of Patients’ Rights And Responsibilities, 1995).
Rights Were Violated in the Robert Courtney Case In the Robert Courtney’s case, patient’s right and expectations were violated.
Patients entered an agreement with Robert for his service. The patients fulfilled their aspect of the agreement by compensating him for his services. On the other hand, Robert Courtney failed to fulfil his aspect of the agreement as evident by the adulteration and misbranding of drugs that he dispensed to patients.
Pharmacist as a Patient Advocate in the Case The role of the pharmacist as a patient advocate is to ensure safety and appropriate use of drug products and drug-related devices that have been approved by the Federal Drug and Food Administration (FDA). They are also obliged to educate patients and consumers on the use of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs (Pharmacists, 2014).
Legal Conclusion of the Case
The legal conclusions of the case were somewhat desolating for Robert Courtney. He was sentenced to maximum 30 years in prison when he was found guilty of several counts of offenses filed against him. Also, about 300 lawsuits were filed against him by his patients and the Kansas City Internal Medicine. He was also ordered by the court of law to pay $25,000 to $10.4 million in restitution (Hall,
2013).
Deciding Factors There are several deciding factors in Robert Courtney’s case. One of the deciding factors was when he was found guilty of adulteration and misbranding of drugs. This offense was significant in this case because many patients’ lives have been destroyed, especially patients battling against cancer. Another deciding factor is the violation of patient’s rights and endangering public health. His actions and disservice toward patients clearly violated their rights (Federal Sentencing Guidelines, 2004).
Punishment Fit the Crime Robert Courtney’s punishments fit his crime. I think that the maximum 30 years in prison he was sentenced to, closing down his pharmaceutical facilities, and having him pay millions of dollars in restitution appear to be adequate for his punishment.
Appeal Filed and Robert Courtney Today An appeal was filed by Robert Courtney and his legal counsel in 2006. Despite their effort to decrease the punishment of their client, the Kansas Supreme Court refused to minimize his punishment and stated that the punishment he is currently facing fit the offenses he committed. Today, Robert Courtney is still in Federal prison serving his 30 years sentencing (Federal Sentencing Guidelines, 2004).
Changes in Procedures for Dispensing Drugs to Patients The Senate passed a bill that will empower the Federal and Drug Administration to police compounding pharmacies in 2013. The primary objective of this bill is to establish a national system that will track prescription drugs from manufacturers to retail pharmacies. This bill will ensure that every medication’s container will have serial numbers and electronic codes which will make tracking of these drugs more feasible ("Senate Passes Bill for Stricter Regulation of Compounding Pharmacies,” 2013).