The ethical and legal implications of healthcare are a critical part of the patient-provider relationship. It is vital to consider legal and ethical implications when prescribing patient medications. In case of Mr Smith, Stephanie, the medical assistant gave a refill without the provider’s knowledge or agreement, which creates potential ethical and legal consequences for the practice’s members. Therefore, it is essential to implement preventative measures and to demonstrate effective leadership to create a safe and compliant practice environment. This paper discusses the ethical and legal implications of the case study, strategies to prevent further potentially illegal behavior in practice, and the leadership qualities necessary to effect a positive change in the practice.
There are major potential ethical and legal ramifications for every practice member. The medical assistant, Stephanie, is involved in the unauthorized provision of medical advice, medication prescription, and negligence (Modi et al., 2022). The nurse practitioner, as the prescriber of the medication, may have potentially prescribed medication without an appropriate medical evaluation of the patient. The medical director may be liable for not providing adequate supervision and training and taking corrective action when needed (Linnan et al., 2019). The practice itself may have potential legal implications for inadequate oversight of the nurse practitioner’s prescribing practices.
The practice must implement preventative measures to stop additional instances of possibly illegal behavior. All staff members should be trained on the laws and regulations relevant to their practice. The practice should have a clear policy in place regarding the prescribing of medications and the handling of patient complaints (Hanson & Haddad, 2021). The practice must also maintain accurate records of all medications prescribed and patient interactions. These actions will help ensure that all staff members follow the law and act in the patients’ best interests.
The medical director must exhibit strong leadership qualities to influence better change in the practice. The qualities could include leading by example and setting clear expectations for all staff members, being open to feedback and willing to listen to staff’s concerns, and creating an environment where staff members feel supported and empowered to speak up if they are aware of any potential violations of the law (van de Riet et al., 2019). These qualities can help create an environment of trust and accountability and a positive culture in practice.
In conclusion, the case study raised potential ethical and legal implications for the nurse practitioner, medical assistant, medical director, and practice. They are in need for strong leadership to bring about a good shift in the health practice, as well as implement methods to stop future instances of potentially unlawful behavior. To ensure the safety and well-being of patients, the medical director must possess the necessary leadership qualities to create a culture of trust and accountability in practice.
QUESTION TO ANSWER- When you analyzed this, did you feel that the organization is engaged in the blame game or is the focus on quality improvement?
If the focus is on quality improvement, what quality improvement model is best used in this situation and why?
