As an advanced practice nurse prescribing drugs, you are responsible for the safety of your patients each day. The prescriber is responsible for ensuring that any medical intervention they propose will align with the ethical and legal guidelines. The nurse practitioner must be knowledgeable about the most recent rules governing advanced practice nurses with the power to prescribe.
According to Rosenthal and Burchum (2021), writing prescriptions should prioritize patient safety and minimize medication errors through thorough assessment, clear documentation, electronic prescribing systems, and ongoing monitoring. The prescriber should ensure that any intervention taken has to account for the patient’s wishes and those of the family members and the primary caregivers.
From the scenario, as an advanced nursing practitioner, prescribing medication makes the nurse face ethical and legal responsibilities. Ethically, the prescriber must prioritize AC’s best interests and respect his autonomy. The prescriber should consider the principle of beneficence by providing appropriate and necessary treatment.
They should also respect AC’s autonomy by ensuring his values and wishes are considered, even without advanced directives (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). Legally, the prescriber must follow applicable laws and regulations regarding informed consent, decision-making capacity, and end-of-life care.
The pharmacist has ethical and legal obligations as well. Ethically, the pharmacist should prioritize patient welfare and respect the autonomy of AC. They should ensure that the prescribed medications are appropriate, safe, and effective. The pharmacist may also play a role in counseling the patient’s family about the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives to treatment options. Legally, the pharmacist must adhere to laws and regulations related to medication dispensing, patient privacy, and confidentiality (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021).
Although unresponsive and unable to communicate, AC has the ethical right to receive appropriate and compassionate care. The ethical principle of autonomy requires that AC’s values and wishes, as expressed by his family, be considered (American Geriatrics Society, 2019). If AC had previously expressed his wishes regarding end-of-life care, those should be respected. The healthcare team must act in his best interests if his wishes are unknown.
The wife and daughter have emotional and ethical involvement in AC’s care. Ethically, the wife’s belief that AC would not want to live in his current state should be respected, as it aligns with the principle of autonomy. The daughter’s belief that AC should be kept alive raises questions about the balance between hope and futility. Ethical discussions and family meetings can help address their concerns, consider AC’s values, and reach a consensus regarding his care.