Ethics

Ethics Case Study

Ann Gove

HCS/335

September 7, 2013

Beryl Keegan RN, BSN, MSN/HCE, CCRN, CLNC

Ethics Case Study

Because ethics are an important part of, our lives they are a very important aspect for those in the health care field. Individual’s ethical values affect both their personal and professional lives, and help determine if their actions are good or bad, right or wrong, unjust or fair. Because in health care where professionals encounter individuals from various aspects of life, facing life, and death decisions that other professionals do not encounter.

Jerry McCall LPN faced an ethical issue while working in Dr. Williams office with training as a medical assistant, and LPN. While covering for the receptionist during a lunch break a patient calls stating, he needed a refill called into his pharmacy for Valium, an antidepressant medication. The patient states “he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes, and that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and has prescribed this medication in the past when he has to fly.” The problem Jerry has encountered is that he is the only person in the office and is not sure what to do. In this paper we will evaluate the ethical issues Jerry is facing if he calls in the prescription or does not, or if he is even legally qualified to do so. There will be an evaluation of the legal and ethical issues facing this problem and the problem-solving methods that may be helpful in making an ethical decision.

The first obstacle Jerry faces is that he is an LPN (licensed practical nurse) not qualified to call in prescriptions for controlled drugs, which the Valium (diazepam) a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens), is a schedule IV drug. Valium is used to treat anxiety-disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms, and sometimes with other drugs to treat seizures (Drugs.com, 2013). Whether the nurse is prescribing the Valium or a high blood pressure medication the patient needs daily this is called exceeding...