Ethical And Legal Implications Of Prescribing Drugs 667558

Ethical And Legal Implications Of Prescribing Drugswhat Type Of Drug S

What type of drug should you prescribe based on your patient’s diagnosis? How much of the drug should the patient receive? How often should the drug be administered? When should the drug not be prescribed? Are there individual patient factors that could create complications when taking the drug? Should you be prescribing drugs to this patient? These are some of the questions you might consider when selecting a treatment plan for a patient. As an advanced practice nurse prescribing drugs, you are held accountable for people’s lives on a daily basis. Patients and their families will often place trust in you because of your position. With this trust comes power and responsibility, as well as an ethical and legal obligation to “do no harm.” It is important that you are aware of current professional, legal, and ethical standards for advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority.

In this discussion, you explore the ethical and legal implications of scenarios and consider how to appropriately respond. You will analyze one of the following scenarios: prescribing medication to a pediatric patient and dosing errors, prescribing medication without sufficient patient information, prescribing narcotics to a non-patient, and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of medications in the context of patient financial difficulties.

For this assignment, select one scenario and consider the ethical and legal implications for all stakeholders involved, including the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and the patient’s family. Describe two strategies that you, as an advanced practice nurse, would use to guide your ethically and legally responsible decision-making in this scenario.

Paper For Above instruction

Prescribing medications involves a complex interplay of ethical and legal considerations that aim to ensure patient safety, professional integrity, and adherence to legal standards. For this paper, I have selected Scenario 1, involving a nurse practitioner making an erroneous prescription for a 5-year-old patient by dosing the medication suitable for an adult. This scenario exemplifies the profound responsibilities of healthcare providers and highlights critical ethical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice, alongside legal obligations to prevent harm and adhere to prescribing regulations.

Ethical Implications for Stakeholders

From an ethical perspective, the primary obligation of the nurse practitioner (NP) is to ensure patient safety and well-being. Administering an adult dose to a child breaches the principle of non-maleficence—“do no harm”—and can result in severe adverse effects, overdose, or even death. This error compromises the trust patients and families place in healthcare providers and undermines professional integrity. For the patient, the ethical concern centers around safety, right to competent care, and protection from preventable harm.

Legally, such a prescribing error may lead to malpractice claims, disciplinary action from licensing boards, or future legal liability if adverse events occur. Healthcare providers are bound by laws governing prescribing practices, including adherence to dosing guidelines and documentation standards. An error of this magnitude can be considered negligence if it results from neglecting accepted standards of care.

The pharmacist also holds a duty to review prescriptions for appropriateness, but the ultimate responsibility lies with the prescriber to provide accurate orders. The patient's family, meanwhile, trusts the NP to have appropriately managed the child's medication; a dosing error damages that trust and can cause emotional distress and loss of confidence in healthcare systems.

Strategies for Ethical and Legal Decision-Making

As an advanced practice nurse (APN), addressing such errors mandates strategies rooted in ethical principles and legal standards. The first strategy involves implementing robust clinical decision support systems (CDSS) integrated within electronic health records (EHRs). These systems can flag potential dosing errors based on patient age, weight, renal function, and standard dosing guidelines. Utilizing technology reduces human error, supports evidence-based practice, and aligns with ethical principles by prioritizing patient safety and reducing harm. Consistent use of such systems demonstrates a commitment to beneficence and non-maleficence, fulfilling legal obligations to prevent harm.

The second strategy entails fostering a culture of transparency and ongoing education. In the event of an error, transparent communication with the patient’s family and healthcare team is crucial. This includes disclosing the mistake, explaining potential risks, and outlining corrective actions. Transparency aligns with ethical principles of honesty and respect for patient autonomy. Additionally, engaging in continuous education on pediatric pharmacology and prescribing standards ensures that the prescriber maintains competence, thus fulfilling legal and ethical obligations to provide safe, competent care.

These strategies emphasize proactive risk management, fostering accountability, and upholding ethical standards within clinical practice. They diminish the likelihood of errors and promote ethical decision-making when adverse events occur, ultimately protecting the patient and supporting healthcare provider accountability.

Conclusion

The ethical and legal implications of prescribing errors, especially in vulnerable populations such as children, require vigilant attention from advanced practice nurses. Employing decision support technologies and maintaining transparent communication and continuous education exemplify best practices in safeguarding patient safety and adhering to professional standards. By integrating these strategies into clinical workflows, nurses can honor their commitments to “do no harm” and navigate complex ethical and legal landscapes responsibly.

References

• Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (2013). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• American Nurses Association. (2001). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/
• Anderson, P., & Townsend, T. (2010). Medication errors: Don’t let them happen to you. American Nurse Today, 5(3), 23–28.
• Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Mid-level practitioners authorization by state. Retrieved from https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov
• Philipsen, N. C., & Soeken, D. (2011). Preparing to blow the whistle: A survival guide for nurses. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 7(9), 740–746.
• National Institutes of Health. (2020). Pediatric pharmacology: Principles and practices. NIH Publication.
• Gaba, D. M., & Singer, S. J. (2012). Managing patient safety: The challenge of human factors. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol, 25(2), 180–185.
• Leape, L. L., & Berwick, D. M. (2005). Five years after To Err Is Human: What have we learned? JAMA, 293(19), 2384–2390.
• Roach, M. S. (2013). Ethical considerations in pediatric medication dosing. J Pediatric Nurs, 28(4), 347–351.
• Bates, D. W., & Spell, N. (2014). Safeguarding medication safety: The role of nurses. J Am Med Inform Assoc, 21(2), 400–404.