Ethics Case Study
Ethics Case Study
HCS/335
July 15, 2013
Ethics Case Study Ethics are an important aspect of an individual’s personal and professional life, as ethics help people determine whether their actions are right or wrong, good or bad, just or unjust, and fair or unfair (Fremen, 2009). In any career, strong workplace ethics and interpersonal ethics are essential. One situation is the case study involving Dr. William’s office assistant, Jerry McCall. Jerry received a call while sitting in for the receptionist. The call was from a long-time patient, who needed a refill at the last minute, for an antidepressant. The patient told Jerry that he is a close friend of Dr. Williams. Jerry has some LPN and medical assistant training but no certification in either field. No one else is available to fill the prescription. This ethics case study will examine if Jerry is qualified to call in a refill. This is bearing on the situation with the callers need for the prescription, and Jerry making ethical and legal decisions. A health care professional must have specific qualifications and certifications to order medication refills for patients (Fremen, 2009). Even though Jerry has training as an LPN and a medical assistant, he still has no certification to work in either field. If jerry had his certification it still does not give him the qualifications to order prescription for patients. Jerry’s medical training does not qualify him to issue refill orders for patients. Calling in prescriptions for patients would put jerry at greater risk for many legal issues. He has to have permission from the physician to call in any prescriptions for patients. Would it make a difference if the medication requested were for control of high blood pressure that the patient critically needed on a daily basis? Why or Why not? This question is tricky. I think Jerry would not be able to prescribe medication even if it is needed every day. I also believe there is no difference if the prescription
HCS/335
July 15, 2013
Ethics Case Study Ethics are an important aspect of an individual’s personal and professional life, as ethics help people determine whether their actions are right or wrong, good or bad, just or unjust, and fair or unfair (Fremen, 2009). In any career, strong workplace ethics and interpersonal ethics are essential. One situation is the case study involving Dr. William’s office assistant, Jerry McCall. Jerry received a call while sitting in for the receptionist. The call was from a long-time patient, who needed a refill at the last minute, for an antidepressant. The patient told Jerry that he is a close friend of Dr. Williams. Jerry has some LPN and medical assistant training but no certification in either field. No one else is available to fill the prescription. This ethics case study will examine if Jerry is qualified to call in a refill. This is bearing on the situation with the callers need for the prescription, and Jerry making ethical and legal decisions. A health care professional must have specific qualifications and certifications to order medication refills for patients (Fremen, 2009). Even though Jerry has training as an LPN and a medical assistant, he still has no certification to work in either field. If jerry had his certification it still does not give him the qualifications to order prescription for patients. Jerry’s medical training does not qualify him to issue refill orders for patients. Calling in prescriptions for patients would put jerry at greater risk for many legal issues. He has to have permission from the physician to call in any prescriptions for patients. Would it make a difference if the medication requested were for control of high blood pressure that the patient critically needed on a daily basis? Why or Why not? This question is tricky. I think Jerry would not be able to prescribe medication even if it is needed every day. I also believe there is no difference if the prescription
References: Essential Steps for Ethical Problem Solving. Retrieved from www.socialworker.org/pubs/ code/oepr/steps.asp