In the professional practice of nursing, there is a need for the consideration of both the legal and ethical boundaries by any party involved in discharging their responsibilities. One of the areas where law and ethical underpinnings are greatly pronounced is in the medical and health care system. This discussion is about the analysis of the case involving a medical practitioner who caused the death of a patient following the medication error.
Looking at the case involving the nurse from Vanderbilt who is prosecuted following the death of the patient, the case has got both pros and cons. In case one agrees with the process of prosecution, it is rightful to say that the nurse did not act in a good faith and within the principles of ethics when she admitted wrong medication to her patient. Inasmuch as the case could not be publicly substantiated, it was appropriate that the merit could not override the evidence of reckless homicide (Knowles, 2019). It calls that recklessness which is clearly evidenced in this case should form the basis for criminal prosecution. Looking at the ethical viewpoint, the nurse broke most of the ethical practices related to patient care. According to ethical principles, it is realized that there was a breach of non-maleficence where it is required that the medical procedure does not harm patients involved. However, in some cases, it is hard to protect patients from harm by healthcare practitioners. Also, the principles of autonomy were not withheld. According to the requirements of the patient’s autonomy, there should be a proper understanding of the medical procedures undertaken by the doctor to the patients. In the case of the nurse from Vanderbilt, it is obvious that she did not notify the patient of the possible risk of administering the medicine.
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There are demerits which can be pointed out from this case. It delimits the nurses’ actions and practices. As a matter of fact, it is learned that it is upon the doctor to determine the best medicine to use in case there is a point for intervention ( Hall et al., 2018). It is essential to note that even though they have the right to understand the medication employed by the doctor, it is necessary that the doctor use a medical procedure of specific medication which they think serves the best interest of the disease. When the case goes ahead and the nurse is found to be guilty, this may have a negative influence on the nursing practice and the entire healthcare fraternity. This reason is that the nurses may shy away from engaging in medical practices or administering medications to patients even if they feel that it will serve the best interest of the patient. This might be borne out of the fear to commit an error on patients.
References
Hall, M. A., Orentlicher, D., Bobinski, M. A., Bagley, N., & Cohen, I. G. (2018). Health care law and ethics .
Knowles M. (2019): Safeguards 'overridden' in Vanderbilt nurse's medication error that led to patient's death, prosecutors say . Clinical leadership and infection control Retrieved from https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/safeguards-overridden-in-vanderbilt-nurse-s-medication-error-that-led-to-patient-s-death-prosecutors-say.html
