Case Study Of Medical Malpractice Report †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Case Study Of Medical Malpractice Report. Answer: Introduction Medical malpractice in one of the serious health care challenges affecting many patients throughout Saudi Arabia. One of the medical malpractices involves prescription of wrong drugs to the patient resulting in medical complications and mortality (Khaliq, 2012). Many healthcare practitioners do not seek the consent of the patient or provide necessary information concerning medication to the patient before treatment. Some of the most affected health professionals include pharmacists and physicists. The subsequent result includes lawsuits due to wrong medication provided to patients who sometimes develop complications such as premature delivery, poor patient health and some succumb to death (Hamdan, 2005, pp 4264). Some malpractices also involve improper communication between health care professionals or errors caused by incompetent health care practitioner in the line of duty. Illness and fatigue are also some other factors contributing to healthcare malpractices. There are ethical st andards that healthcare professionals need to follow when in the line of duty. The ministry of health also provides various guideline and procedures to use while dispensing drugs to patients in hospitals. The following critical thinking report provides analysis of the case study and recommendations prevention of case. The case The study involved an allegation of pharmacist dispensing wrong drugs to a 23-year-old female patient that resulted in the premature delivery of 23 weeks fetus. The labor and delivery nurse, on the other hand, had no idea the implication and usage of Prostin on the patient hence administered the drug to the patient. In the case, the pharmacist on duty administered Prostin suppository instead of progesterone suppository to stop the virginal bleeding. Though the defending pharmacist claimed to be ill at the time of malpractice, the pharmacist was also not familiar with the progesterone suppository administered. The end result was impairment of the fetus and subsequent premature delivery of 23 weeks old fetus. Furthermore, the pharmacist on duty complained of fatigue and need relieve from another pharmacist (Health Service Providers Organization, 2013). The fetus was severely impaired and had to be transferred to another hospital for intensive care. Therefore, the pharmacist, labor and delivery nurse and hospital are held responsible for the medical malpractice. Ethical principles The ethical standards offer the perspective that outlines the relationship between pharmacist, patient and the organization. Firstly, the pharmacist did not observe the ethical standards and codes before dispensing the drug to the patient as evidenced by improper administration of Prostin suppository instead of Progesterone suppository that she could have used. The ethical codes of practice clearly outline the ethical standards that are expected from a pharmacist especially when dispensing life-saving medication to patient or client. It was unethical for the pharmacist to dispense the drug to a patient without proper knowledge of the action and implications of the drugs itself. In addition, the pharmacist did not properly understand policies and ethical standards guiding the use of drugs and medication. This is evident in her failure to distinguish between Prostin suppository and progesterone suppository (Buchanan, 2006, pp 290304). Secondly, from the patients perspective, the patient is entitled to satisfactory medical care with minimal risk. It is therefore not ethical to receive improper medication couple with high risk as evidenced in the case study. Ethical codes also dictate that the consent of the patient needs to be considered before administering medication (Saudi Food Drug Authority, 2011). As in the case, the pharmacist did not seek the consent of the patient as the norm requires. Moreover, the ethical standards indicate that pharmacist should present all the information to the patient concerning drugs before dispensing to patient. The patient needs to have given consent due to information on drugs given without pressure from the pharmacist. The hospital also had ethical responsibility to bear given that the pharmacist complained that she was ill and fatigue due to overtime work. The hospital ought to have used its ethical and standards of practice to streamline communication between employees and patients. The pharmacist needs not to have overworked despite complaints from the employee of illness. The relieving pharmacist on duty needs to have come in time to take over duty at the hospital to avoid complication as witnessed. Furthermore, the use of technology in confirmation of drugs the computer gave a different drug name instead of the original drug. This is against the ethical and standards of practice that is expected from a life-saving organization. The labor and delivery nurse though not aware of the drug error is also responsible for malpractice since as practitioner she needs to have understood reasons administering the drug (Aldossary, While Barriball, 2008, pp 1258). The legal implications The case presents a critical legal implication that needs serious examination since the pharmacist did not apply pharmacy policies and was negligence. Firstly, patient or client has a right that dictates the manner in which the patient is attended to and ensures patient satisfaction. It is important to note that in the case the patients bill of right was not respected. According to patient's bill of right that govern the pharmaceutical relationship between patient and pharmacist, the patient has right to satisfactory pharmaceutical care according to professional standards. In addition, patients have right to all the information regarding the medication or drugs dispensed to that patient. Secondly, the hospital and the healthcare practitioner involved are responsible for the malpractice witnessed in the case. The pharmaceutical and medical laws outline the expected standard of practice and bridge of these codes of practice come in hand with legal implications. Moreover, there are vari ous regulations that help regulate the healthcare practice of various healthcare professionals. This was not followed in the medical malpractice case and all parties involved need to face the legal action (Yousuf, Akerele Al-Mazrou, 2002). The labor and delivery nurse, for instance, had no idea on the usage and implication of the wrong drug she administered to the patient. Some laws that were involved include pharmacy patients bill of right, professional code of conduct and ethics, and Law of Pharmaceutical Establishments and Preparations. Firstly, pharmacist patient bill of right was not considered in the case since various aspects of the patient right such as the right to information, quality care and satisfactory standard of care were not considered. Secondly, professional code of conduct and ethics were not followed when the pharmacist carelessly dispense drugs despite the error of name in pharmacist computer. The pharmacist and delivery nurse as healthcare practitioners act in an unethical manner that causes a high health risk. Thirdly, Law of Pharmaceutical Establishments and Preparations provide procedures that are followed through from prescription to dispensing of drugs to the patient. In the case, various guidelines and procedures involved in prescribing to the administering of the drug were not followed hence the pharmacist and labor nurse w as in haste to administer the drug to a patient (Ministry of Health, 2010). Finally, codes of ethics are also set guidelines that were involved in the medical malpractice since ethical standards also act as laws for satisfactory practice. Healthcare parties involved in the case exhibited limited observance of ethical codes of practice as laid out in Saudi Arabian ministry of health guidelines. How to manage the case In order to manage the case from the healthcare perspective, the organization and health practitioners need to take responsibility for the action of the pharmacist. Firstly, the pharmacist should be held responsible for her action since she did not act as per the ethical code or standards of practice. Secondly, the hospital as an organization should be held responsible for the action of the employee since despite complain from the pharmacist of illness; no action was taken to relieve her of duty. Improper communication between prescribing practitioner, supervising pharmacist and pharmacist on duty also lead to wrong drugs. To manage the case procedure need to immediately establish to reduce any miscommunication. Thirdly, the hospital needs to pay for any damage cost or compensation to the patient and their family (Shehab, 2001, pp 528). Recommended Prevention of the case There are various precautionary measures that should have considered to prevent the case. Based on the healthcare ethical codes and standards of practice, there are some steps that could have been done to prevent any future cases of medical malpractice as in the case study. Firstly, there could have been proper communication between patient and healthcare practitioner to ensure patients have enough information regarding medication. The standards of medical health care practice require pharmacist to obtain the consent of client based on information given to the patient before dispensing drugs to treat patients. Communication between prescribing practitioner and the pharmacist also need to properly coordinate to ensure proper consultation (Aspalter, Yasuo Robin, 2012, p29-30). This could have reduced any misunderstanding of drugs leading to wrong medications. Secondly, health care practitioners could have been properly trained on the risks of dispensing wrong drugs to the patient. Training should focus on the protocol of entering drug order into the pharmacist computer without errors such as drug names. This could have prevented misunderstanding while entering the drug order into the pharmacist computer. Training would have also bridged the gap between prescribing health care official and administering nurse. In addition, training could also assist in creating coherent working condition between various healthcare practitioners that normally assist in the similar situation. For instance, training can improve working conditions between prescribing practitioner and pharmacist or between pharmacist and nurse since they both work in similar line. Recommendation Implementation procedures The implementation procedures for the precautionary measures to prevent the case should follow elaborate guidelines. Firstly, training of practitioners on teamwork health care service is the primary procedure for ensuring limited errors in future. Teamwork also highlights the necessity of every player from physicist to nurse within that line of practice (Moynihan Cassels, 2005). Secondly, clear observation of pharmaceutical protocol and procedure when entering drug order into the pharmacist computer. The primary reason for the error in the case was a failure to distinguish between Prostin and Progesterone when entering drug order in the computer. Procedure and protocol followed needs to be clear, precise and without any confusion. This should also use clear approved sig codes that minimize any error that might be incurred (Hattingh, Low Kim, 2013, p27). Thirdly, linking various related healthcare departments is the number two procedure. There is a need for proper coordination of healthcare for patients between various healthcare practitioners in a related line of duty. For instance, physicians, pharmacist, and nurse need an elaborate coordinated care with minimal errors. This will ensure before dispensing drugs the prescribing practitioner is aware of the drug and the administering nurse is also familiar with the drug (Almalki, Fitzgerald Clark, 2011, pp 784). Fourthly, developing a communication channel between healthcare practitioners is another procedure that will ensure that problems are prevented in future. Good communication network ensures that any uncertainty is eliminated and clear communication protocol maintained by ethical standards is put in place. For instance, suppose there was good communication between prescribing practitioner and pharmacist the drug name error would have been corrected before being passed down to labor and delivery nurse that had insufficient information on the drug (Gold Miner, 2002). Conclusion In conclusion, following ethical codes and standards of practice are important healthcare factors that determine the quality of healthcare services. Various healthcare laws require proper provision of medication to patients without any health risks. In the case study, improper drug dispense leads to tragic health care complications that resulted in the premature delivery of 23 weeks fetus. Wrong medication shows there is a clear need for understanding and accountability of practitioner's healthcare actions. This case had legal implications with different laws being involved. There are also various steps that would have been followed to prevent these errors. Subsequently, some procedures also need to be implemented to ensure that future errors in healthcare service provision are minimized. References Aldossary, A. While, A. Barriball, L. (2008). Healthcare and Nursing in Saudi Arabia. International Nursing Review, (55):1258. Almalki, M., Fitzgerald, G. Clark, M. (2011). Healthcare System in Saudi Arabia: An Overview. East Mediterranean Health Journal, (17):78493. Aspalter, C., Yasuo, U. Robin, G. (2012). Health Care Systems in Europe and Asia. Routledge, p29-30 Buchanan, D.R. (2006). Perspective: A new Ethic for Health Promotion - Reflections on a Philosophy of Health Education for the 21st century. Health Education Behav., (33):290304. Gold, R. S. Miner, K. R. (2002). Joint Committee on Health Education and Promotion Terminology Report of the 2000 Joint Committee on Health Education and Promotion Terminology. Journal of School Health, (72):37 Hamdan, A. (2005). Women and Education in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Achievements. International Education Journal, (6):4264. Hattingh, L., Low, J. S. Kim, F. (2013). Australian Pharmacy Law and Practice: Elsevier Health Sciences, p27, 67 Health Service Providers Organization, (2013). Pharmacist and Medical Malpractice: Case Study with risk management strategies. Chicago, USA: HPSO and CAN. Available at: https://www.hpso.com/Documents/Risk%20Education/individuals/LegalCaseStudy/RX_SLCSx-10122-0213_February2013.pdf Khaliq, A.A. (2012). The Saudi health Care System: A view from the Minaret. World Health Popul.(13):5264. Moynihan, R. Cassels, A. (2005). Selling Sickness: How the Drug Companies are turning us all into Patients. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen Unwin. Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (2010). Health Year Book, www.moh.gov.sa Saudi Food Drug Authority (SFDA) (2011). SFDA Regulation (2007) Institutions and Pharmaceutical Products Guidelines. Retrieved from: www.sfda.gov.sa/Ar/Drug Shehab, S. (2001). Between Life and Death. Al-Ahram Weekly, pp 528. Yousuf, M., Akerele, T.M, Al-Mazrou, Y.Y. (2002). Organization of the Saudi health system. East Mediterranean Health Journa,l (8):64553