CASE STUDY ANALYSIS 2

Case Study Analysis

What are the potential ethical and legal implications for each of the following practice
members?
Medical assistant
Medical assistants are important professionals in the provision of medical care. Medical
assistants provide clinical care as well as admirative support in healthcare facilities. Medical
assistants have an ethical and legal obligation of taking and recording vital signs (Ahalt,
Rothman, & Williams, 2017). The medical assistant in the case study has a legal obligation of
ensuring that they maintain accurate patient records. The records should be a genuine and
accurate representation of facts. The medical assistant also has to provide the patients with direct
care and supervision. In this case, the medical practitioner has breached the legal obligation of
maintaining accurate health records.
Nurse Practitioner
A nurse has an ethical and legal obligation to act in the best interest of the patient. Nurses
must always seek to protect patients by doing the right thing. As a family nurse practitioner, it is
important to enquire further on how Mrs. Smith has a bottle that has a recent date despite the fact
that she has not visited the facility in a year. It is also important to know who made the
prescription since Stephanie does not have the relevant medical background to write
prescriptions (Ahalt, Rothman, & Williams, 2017). As a nurse, protecting the patients includes
ensuring that they receive the right medicine, and any irregularities noted are reported.
Medical Director

CASE STUDY ANALYSIS 3
The medical director also has an ethical responsibility of advocating for the patient’s best
interests . Medical directors possess the right skills to ensure that they achieve positive
healthcare outcomes in the facilities which they work for. The medical director has to investigate
the case and ensure that instances of negligence are corrected. It is also important to understand
how the patient got the prescription.
I would implement several strategies to ensure that such episodes of potentially illegal
behavior are prevented. First, all nurse practitioners and medical assistance will take refresher
courses to ensure that they acquire adequate and relevant knowledge and ethical and legal
conduct at the workplace (Haddad & Geiger, 2019). During the refresher courses, there will be
advocacy on the roles of nurses in promoting competent, safe, and ethical care when interacting
with patients. Besides, nurse practitioners will be encouraged to acquire new skills and
knowledge that are relevant to their practice areas, as this could stand them a chance for
promotion. Also, I will initiate dialogue on ethical issues in healthcare provisions. Nurse
practitioners, physicians, and medical assistants will be regularly reminded verbally and in the
form of writing of the authority, responsibility, and accountability that their job descriptions give
them pertaining to the provision of optimal patient care (Haddad & Geiger, 2019).
Some of the leadership qualities that I will apply to effect a positive change in the
practice include delegating appropriately. I will take note of the abilities of other professionals
such as Stephanie, and delegate duties accordingly to ensure that no one feels that their skills and
competence are underutilized. Also, delegating will allow me to focus on roles that are specific t
scope of practice, and which I cannot delegate. Another quality is decision making, and I will
apply good critical thinking skills, and urge my colleagues to do the same. A nurse practitioner is
expected to carry oneself in accordance with the highest professional, ethical conduct (Carter et

CASE STUDY ANALYSIS 4
al., 2010). Overall, I will act with integrity and encourage everyone to do so with the aim of
enhancing transparency at work. Actions such as prescribing medicine under someone else’s
signature will be unheard of if everyone acts with integrity.

CASE STUDY ANALYSIS 5

References

Ahalt, C., Rothman, A., & Williams, B. A. (2017). Examining the role of healthcare
professionals in the use of solitary confinement. Bmj, 359, j4657.
Carter, N., Martin-Misener, R., Kilpatrick, K., Kaasalainen, S., Donald, F., Bryant-Lukosius, D.,
… & DiCenso, A. (2010). The role of nursing leadership in integrating clinical nurse
specialists and nurse practitioners in healthcare delivery in Canada. Canadian Journal of
Nursing Leadership, 23(December), 167-185.
Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2019). Nursing Ethical Considerations.