Week 2 Hcs Case Study
Case Study
Danjerell Burks
HCS/335
November 26, 2014
Susan Miedzianowski
Case Study
The scenario, which this paper will examine, involves Jerry McCall, an office assistant with training as both a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a medical assistant. Jerry, alone in the office, receives a call from a patient asking him to call in a prescription for Valium to a local pharmacy. The patient states that he is heading to the airport and is in need of the prescription. The patient also relays to Jerry that he is a friend of Dr. Williams and that Dr. Williams usually gives him some Valium before he flies.
Jerry is faced with an ethical dilemma on whether or not to call in a prescription for Valium. Ethically, the answer is not. Jerry, in this scenario, is working as an office assistant and even though he has both trainings as a medical assistant and an LPN, he is not authorized to refill a prescription. Even if Jerry were working as an LPN for the day he does not have the authorization from Dr. Williams to make that call. In doing so, Jerry could lose his licensure.
Jerry should also be suspicious about the patient claiming that he is using Valium as and anti-depressant when it is intended to be used as an anti-anxiety medication. Valium (Diazepam) is classified as a schedule IV controlled dangerous substance (CDS). This type of substance requires a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license to prescribe. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (2010), within any given six-month period, Valium, along with any medication in this medication schedule, can only be refilled five times. For a prescription of this nature, the patient’s chart would need to be reviewed as well as obtaining an authorization from Dr. Williams for the prescription. If the prescription had been for something else, like blood pressure medication, Jerry might have been more apt to refilling it because it is needed to maintain the patient’s health. Regardless of what the prescription
Danjerell Burks
HCS/335
November 26, 2014
Susan Miedzianowski
Case Study
The scenario, which this paper will examine, involves Jerry McCall, an office assistant with training as both a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a medical assistant. Jerry, alone in the office, receives a call from a patient asking him to call in a prescription for Valium to a local pharmacy. The patient states that he is heading to the airport and is in need of the prescription. The patient also relays to Jerry that he is a friend of Dr. Williams and that Dr. Williams usually gives him some Valium before he flies.
Jerry is faced with an ethical dilemma on whether or not to call in a prescription for Valium. Ethically, the answer is not. Jerry, in this scenario, is working as an office assistant and even though he has both trainings as a medical assistant and an LPN, he is not authorized to refill a prescription. Even if Jerry were working as an LPN for the day he does not have the authorization from Dr. Williams to make that call. In doing so, Jerry could lose his licensure.
Jerry should also be suspicious about the patient claiming that he is using Valium as and anti-depressant when it is intended to be used as an anti-anxiety medication. Valium (Diazepam) is classified as a schedule IV controlled dangerous substance (CDS). This type of substance requires a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license to prescribe. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (2010), within any given six-month period, Valium, along with any medication in this medication schedule, can only be refilled five times. For a prescription of this nature, the patient’s chart would need to be reviewed as well as obtaining an authorization from Dr. Williams for the prescription. If the prescription had been for something else, like blood pressure medication, Jerry might have been more apt to refilling it because it is needed to maintain the patient’s health. Regardless of what the prescription