Ethical And Legal Implications Of Prescribing Drugs 795713

Ethical And Legal Implications Of Prescribing Drugs

Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following: Explain the ethical and legal implications of the scenario you selected on all stakeholders involved, such as the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and patient’s family. Describe strategies to address disclosure and nondisclosure as identified in the scenario you selected. Be sure to reference laws specific to your state (Illinois). Explain two strategies that you, as an advanced practice nurse, would use to guide your decision making in this scenario, including whether you would disclose your error. Be sure to justify your explanation. Explain the process of writing prescriptions, including strategies to minimize medication errors. Include an introduction and conclusion.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The scenario involving a 72-year-old male patient who has suffered a massive stroke due to a medication error highlights the critical importance of understanding the ethical and legal implications associated with prescribing drugs. These implications profoundly affect all stakeholders involved, including the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and the patient's family. Ensuring adherence to legal statutes and ethical principles is essential to safeguard patient safety, provider responsibility, and trust in healthcare.

From an ethical perspective, the primary concern revolves around nonmaleficence and beneficence, which compel healthcare providers to avoid harm and act in the best interest of the patient. In this scenario, the medication error leading to a severe stroke raises questions about negligence and duty of care. The prescriber has an ethical obligation to ensure accurate prescribing, and failing to do so can undermine patient trust and violate professional ethical standards (American Nurses Association, 2015). The pharmacist's role in verifying prescriptions also bears ethical responsibility to prevent medication errors (Lehne et al., 2021). Legally, the prescriber and pharmacist could be held liable under negligence if the error is deemed preventable and caused harm. Laws specific to Illinois, such as the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Act, outline prescriptive authority but also emphasize the importance of accountability and scope of practice (Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Act, 2020).

The patient's family, particularly in this case where the patient is unable to communicate, faces emotional distress and a moral dilemma concerning the patient's wishes and quality of life. The absence of advanced directives complicates decisions about life-sustaining treatment. Ethically, respect for patient autonomy is challenged, and legally, family members may need to provide surrogacy decisions under Illinois law, which mandates considering the patient's best interests (Illinois Health Care Surrogacy Act, 2019). The family’s differing opinions demonstrate the complexity of balancing nonmaleficence and beneficence while respecting the patient's presumed wishes.

Strategies to address disclosure and nondisclosure must be grounded in transparency and adherence to legal obligations. The Healthcare Power of Attorney or surrogate decision-makers play a vital role in disclosure decisions (Sabatino et al., 2017). In Illinois, relevant laws such as the Illinois Patients' Rights Act require truthful disclosure and informed consent unless doing so would cause substantial harm or violate privacy laws (Illinois Patients’ Rights Act, 2010). If a healthcare provider discovers an error, ethical practice and legal guidelines advocate for disclosure to the patient’s family, fostering trust and allowing them to participate in decision-making. Transparency might involve explaining that a medication error occurred, clarifying its implications, and discussing possible next steps, while keeping the patient's best interests in focus.

As an advanced practice nurse, two strategies to guide ethical decision-making in this scenario include consulting institutional policies and seeking multidisciplinary collaboration. First, adhering to established protocols for medication errors, including mandatory reporting and documentation, aligns with both ethical duties and legal requirements (Sabatino et al., 2017). Second, engaging a team comprising physicians, pharmacists, and ethical advisors ensures a comprehensive assessment of the situation and supports morally sound decisions. Regarding disclosure, I would advocate for full transparency with the family, unless there is a legal or ethical contraindication. Disclosing the error aligns with professional standards emphasizing honesty and patient safety (Lehne et al., 2021). Justification for disclosure is based on fostering trust, enabling informed decision-making, and complying with legal requirements, especially within Illinois where truth-telling is mandated by law.

The process of writing prescriptions entails a systematic approach beginning with verifying the patient's identity and understanding their medical history. Selecting the appropriate drug involves considering pharmacokinetics, potential interactions, and appropriateness for the patient’s age and health status (Lehne et al., 2021). Accurate documentation, including drug name, dosage, frequency, and route, is crucial. Employing strategies like avoiding error-prone abbreviations, double-checking calculations, and utilizing technology such as electronic prescribing reduces medication errors (Institute for Safe Medication Practices, 2017). Regularly reviewing current guidelines, such as the Beers Criteria, also helps prevent prescribing inappropriate medications in older adults (American Geriatrics Society, 2019). These practices collectively minimize the risk of adverse drug events, enhance safety, and uphold the standards of professional prescribing.

References

• American Geriatrics Society 2019 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel. (2019). American Geriatrics Society 2019 updated AGS Beers criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(4), 674–694. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15767
• American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. American Nurses Association.
• Illinois Health Care Surrogacy Act, 755 ILCS 40/1-40/20 (2019).
• Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Act, 225 ILCS 65/1-65/10 (2020).
• Illinois Patients’ Rights Act, 210 ILCS 50/1-50/15 (2010).
• Institute for Safe Medication Practices. (2017). List of error-prone abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations. Retrieved from https://www.ismp.org/recommendations/error-prone-abbreviations
• Lehne, R. A., Burchum, J. R. (2021). Lehne’s pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (2nd ed.). Elsevier.
• Sabatino, J. A., Pruchnicki, M. C., Sevin, A. M., Barker, E., Green, C. G., & Porter, K. (2017). Improving prescribing practices: A pharmacist-led educational intervention for nurse practitioner students. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 29(5), 248-254. https://doi.org/10.1002/.12446