Legal Profession Paper

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West Coast University *

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305

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Nursing

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Nov 24, 2024

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7

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1 Legal Profession Paper Student’s Name Institution Course Professor’s Name Date
2 Legal Profession Paper Errors in patient care are unintended consequences of treatment that may or may not cause damage. Among the many aspects of medical mistakes, transparency is crucial. Medical practitioners owe it to their patients and their families for them to be informed of such mistakes. Errors can be reduced further by using a more systematic prescribing approach. Ethical and Legal Implications of Disclosure and Nondisclosure The medical staff is ethically responsible for informing patients and family members about any mistakes made during treatment (Vaismoradi et al., 2020). Many times, though, they may be inclined to withhold this information out of concern for their professional ties with their patients. However, a healthcare provider who chooses not to inform a patient of the mistake puts the provider's interests ahead of the patient's. Therefore, it is always morally acceptable to report a medical mistake. However, disclosing and concealing medical mistakes can have serious legal consequences (Vaismoradi et al., 2020). Any drug mistakes must be reported to the federal government in the United States. The California Department of Health Services and the Health and Human Services Agency include sections of the California Code of Regulations dedicated to error reporting. The California Department of Public Health should be notified of medical mistakes in the state's hospitals. Therefore, the nurse must report the issue to the patient or his family and the local health department. What to Do in Case of Medical Errors Several aspects call for the attention of a nurse with advanced practice credentials. Recognizing the error and explaining it to the patient would be necessary steps. Recognizing the
3 error might reduce the possibility of legal action being taken. Conversely, admitting guilt after the fact is constructive since it prevents the escalation of a mistake into an expensive legal process for both the company and the perpetrator. The healthcare professional should also talk to a colleague or supervisor about his situation to gain new insight. Conversation with more knowledgeable coworkers and superiors is crucial since they may restore confidence in one's abilities and get him back on course (Alghamdi et al., 2019). A nurse who suspects she may be involved in a legal proceeding should consult with an attorney. To better recognize and deal with the legal difficulties that may arise, the nurse might benefit from the assistance of a legal practitioner. The advanced practice nurse must inform the patient of the mistake in this case. Disclosing this information to the patient or their family is necessary for several reasons, including compliance with ethical standards (Lee & Yoon, 2021). In addition, it has been established that transparency lessens the possibility of legal action being taken. Furthermore, reporting such mistakes is mandatory in several jurisdictions. Also, honesty is necessary since it helps prevent injury from prescription mistakes. Medical centers can then use this information to improve patient safety. Therefore, any medical mistakes must be released. The Process of Writing Prescriptions Prescription preparation is crucial in healthcare since it significantly impacts the frequency of medical mistakes and requires extreme care. The World Health Organization has developed a method that should be implemented. Prescriptions begin with an assessment and precise diagnosis of the patient's condition (WHO, 2018). This is necessary since it reduces the likelihood of unnecessary drug prescriptions being written. For instance, a patient with a viral illness could exhibit signs that match those of a bacterial infection. Although no definitive
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4 therapy might be necessary, it is crucial to diagnose the patient's condition and choose the best course of action. Possible symptom relief is all that is needed while the body naturally fights against the germs. Alternatively, figuring out what the issue is can assist in keeping unintended consequences out of the picture. For instance, before giving an antibiotic to a pregnant woman for sinus pain, it is essential to rule out the possibility of harm to the unborn child. The second level entails defining the treatment's intended outcome (WHO, 2018). This is a crucial stage since it ensures that the upcoming prescription will be founded on a well-defined purpose and desired results. If the treatment aim is to be achieved, it is essential that the prescription prescribed to treat an illness be within the patient's financial means. Furthermore, it may be counterproductive to treat a symptom without first identifying its source. When dealing with disorders like hypertension in patients who are or do not have diabetes, where the therapeutic interventions depend on the risk factors, it is crucial to have a clear picture of what you hope to achieve. Identifying an appropriate medication is the third stage. A doctor should develop a standard protocol for their medications to treat frequent conditions. It might be crucial to consider any potential benefits the medicine might have for the patient (WHO, 2018). Also, it is essential to think about possible drug interactions. Therefore, a patient's age, chronic illness condition, and current medication use must be considered when selecting an appropriate medicine. In the fourth phase, you will begin taking your prescribed prescription after gathering all the necessary information and considering other treatments. Practitioners should use straightforward, understandable, and understandable language when writing prescriptions (WHO, 2018). Drug names and dosage instructions should not be abbreviated. Using simple,
5 plain language can aid patients' comprehension and call attention to any mistakes. In order to minimize unnecessary drug prescriptions, it is also crucial to ascertain a patient's openness to non-pharmacological techniques. Information, directions, and cautions (if applicable) should be given in the fifth stage. Practitioners are responsible for informing patients of the risks, benefits, and alternatives (WHO, 2018). They should talk about the drug's more significant and frequent adverse effects. Further, they should advise patients when to go to the hospital immediately. That is why doctors need to provide all the data they can. The final phase is the continuous assessment of therapy effectiveness. The phase's goals are to prove that medicine works and lessen its potential side effects. Patients who are elderly or who have chronic conditions require extra attention during the monitoring process. As a result, doctors must stay updated on how their patients respond to the prescribed drugs. Strategies for Reducing Medication Errors A variety of methods can reduce medication mistakes. One method is employing computer systems and other prescription resources, such as therapeutic guidelines (Rodziewicz & Hipskind, 2020). This method is becoming increasingly crucial as pharmacotherapy evolves at a breathtaking pace. The third tactic is to track and study incidences of medical mistakes. A discovered mistake might serve as a springboard for future education and prevention efforts. Medication mistakes can also be minimized with the use of a bar-coding system. Before administering a drug, the system checks that the proper patient, prescription, dosage, schedule, and route have been entered. Medication mistakes can also be reduced with proper education. Staff training and organizational changes that facilitate fewer drug mistakes should be the focus
6 of educational initiatives aimed toward this end. One of the essential skills we nurses should have is the ability to teach patients and other medical staff. Conclusion With extensive training, nurses have a moral and legal obligation to report mistakes to patients or their families. Prescriptions should be written on a methodical basis to cut down on human error. Various regulations and laws, both federal and state, control the reporting of medical mistakes in the United States.
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7 References Alghamdi, A. A., Keers, R. N., Sutherland, A., & Ashcroft, D. M. (2019). Prevalence and nature of medication errors and preventable adverse drug events in paediatric and neonatal intensive care settings: a systematic review. Drug safety , 42 , 1423-1436. Lee, D., & Yoon, S. N. (2021). Application of artificial intelligence-based technologies in the healthcare industry: Opportunities and challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 18 (1), 271. Rodziewicz, T. L., & Hipskind, J. E. (2020). Medical error prevention. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing . Vaismoradi, M., Tella, S., A. Logan, P., Khakurel, J., & Vizcaya-Moreno, F. (2020). Nurses’ adherence to patient safety principles: A systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health , 17 (6), 2028. World Health Organization (2018). Essential Medicines and Health Products Information Portal . Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip23e/5.4.html .