Introduction
Mistakes that healthcare professionals make when prescribing medications can have severe consequences for patients. The outcomes include both individual for the patient, for example, a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment, or even death, and general health care in general, such as a decrease in confidence in the health care system and a decrease in public health. Moreover, prescribing errors often lead to litigation, so it is crucial to understand the ethical and legal implications of such errors. This paper analyzes the moral and legal aspects of errors in prescribing drug treatment using the example of a 5-year-old patient mistakenly prescribed a dose suitable for an adult. The analysis includes factors such as the impact on key stakeholders, disclosure and nondisclosure strategies, and decision-making and mitigation strategies.
Impact on Stakeholders
In this scenario, the main stakeholders are the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and patient’s family. The nurse practitioner is responsible for prescribing the correct medications for the patient and determining the appropriate dosages, frequency, and duration of administration (Vemuri et al., 2022). In this case, the nurse’s competence, knowledge, and professionalism may be subject to significant doubts. One of the ethical principles of healthcare providers is to guarantee the safety and welfare of patients. If a nurse fails to provide for them and knowingly or mistakenly puts the safety and lives of patients at risk, they may be held liable if harm occurs.
Moreover, to mitigate the risk of medical errors, pharmacists must further evaluate the prescriptions they receive from patients. If a pharmacist cannot recognize an inappropriate dosage for a pediatric patient, they may share the ethical and legal responsibility for dispensing the drug (Vemuri et al., 2022). Pharmacists must use their professional judgment and knowledge to identify and correct treatment errors, communicating with the prescribing physician as necessary.
Since medical error directly affects the treatment process and patients’ health, they are also stakeholders. Moreover, in this scenario, the mistake in prescribing drugs was made during the child’s treatment; hence, they will be involved in this process as official representatives of the child (Hong et al., 2019). A mistake made by the healthcare provider could potentially lead to negative consequences of varying severity, from side effects to death. From an ethical perspective, patients should be informed of all risks associated with treatment, including promptly informing them of medical errors (Hong et al., 2019). Moreover, from a legal point of view, patients and their representatives have the right to file a lawsuit against a doctor and pharmacist who allowed patients to take medicines in the wrong dosage.
Addressing Disclosure and Nondisclosure
In this scenario, disclosure is essential to comply with ethical standards of transparency and honesty. According to state law, patients must receive all information about their treatment process, including mistakes made by doctors (Hong et al., 2019). In such a case, the healthcare provider who issued the prescription would have to be held legally responsible, which would help prevent negative consequences for the patient. The nurse who has made a mistake should be accountable for dealing with the outcomes. However, it is acceptable to involve other medical professionals, such as doctors or the head of the department, for help and support. In some cases, a healthcare provider has the right not to disclose information about an error if identified early and corrected without causing harm to the patient (Hong et al., 2019). In addition, consulting with experts on legal and ethical issues is necessary to minimize the negative consequences for each stakeholder.
Strategies for Decision-Making
Making the right decision in case of medical error implies considering the interests of all interested parties. It includes following different strategies, like interdisciplinary collaboration and adherence to ethical standards. When deciding, a nurse may consult with more experienced colleagues, such as doctors or advanced practice registered nurses. In addition, it is essential to obtain the opinion of the ethics committee and medical-legal experts (Hong et al., 2019). It will help you get expert opinions from colleagues with similar experiences.
Moreover, in the work of a nurse, including while addressing medical errors, it is essential to follow ethical principles and standards. The core four principles of healthcare include nonmaleficence, autonomy, beneficence, and equity (Hong et al., 2019). Based on these standards, as an advanced practice nurse, I would disclose the information to the patient as this helps prevent negative consequences for the child. Moreover, it is necessary to consider the stage at which the error was detected since the earlier it is detected, the fewer negative consequences there will be for stakeholders.
Writing Prescriptions
Writing recipes requires attention to detail and adherence to established norms and standards. Foremost, it is necessary to identify the patient and indicate the age accurately. In this case, even if a nurse makes a mistake, the pharmacist can notice it and contact the healthcare provider who issued the prescription (Vemuri et al., 2022). In addition, electronic prescription systems are recommended to reduce the risk of misinterpreting drug names. Moreover, it is necessary to double-check the prescribed prescriptions to exclude errors in dosages. The pharmacist can check medications, so the nurse must communicate effectively with allied professionals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, medical errors can lead to negative consequences for all stakeholders. Therefore, taking the necessary measures and adhering to the standards of writing prescriptions is essential to minimize the risks. However, if an error is discovered, it is essential to analyze the situation carefully, decide on disclosure or nondisclosure, and take the required measures according to medical practice’s ethical and legal standards. This means that healthcare providers must ensure the safety and well-being of patients.
Reference
Hong, K., Hong, Y. D., & Cooke, C. E. (2019). Medication errors in community pharmacies: The need for commitment, transparency, and research. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 15(7), 823-826. Web.
Vemuri, N., Sneed, K., & Pathak, Y. (2022). Medication errors: An ethical analysis. Biomedical Journal of Scientifical & Technical Research, 45(2), 36208-36212. Web.
