Nr532 Week 5: Legal and Ethical Issues
Nr532 Week 5: Legal. A nurse gives the wrong dose of medication to a patient. Discuss the components of professional negligence related to this incident.
Nr532 Week 5: Legal Answer
The Professional Nursing Practice Standards serve as authoritative guidelines outlining the expected responsibilities of every registered nurse, irrespective of their population focus, role, or specialty. As emphasized by Lenk and Duttge (2014), these standards evolve alongside the dynamic landscape of nursing professionalism, necessitating continuous awareness and adherence by nurses to the updated ethical, legal, and practice guidelines influencing their roles.
In instances where a healthcare provider violates these standards, patients reserve the right to pursue legal action for medical malpractice. In particular, improper prescription practices by medical providers can result in legal consequences, with the affected individuals seeking recourse through the legal system. Professional negligence, encompassing the disregard for legal and ethical considerations in patient care, carries legal implications and accountability.
References:
Lenk, C., & Duttge, G. (2014). Ethical and legal framework and regulation for off-label use: European perspective. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 10, 537–546. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S66581.
Darrow, J. J., Sarpatwari, A., Avorn, J., & Kesselheim, A. S. (2016). Practical, legal, and ethical issues in expanded access to investigational drugs. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(3), 279–286. doi:10.1056/NEJMhpr1503618.
