...Ethics Case Study Sandra Childers HCS/335 January 16, 2012 Patricia Tobin. PhD, LCSW Ethics Case Study This paper discusses the dilemma of Jerry McCall. Jerry, office assistant of Dr. Williams, is a trained medical assistant and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). While covering the front desk while the receptionist was out to lunch, a patient and friend of Dr. Williams calls requesting a refill order for Valium. The friend is taking a trip by plane and takes the Valium when he flies. There are questions that arise from this scenario. Is Jerry qualified to fulfill this request? If the refill was for a different medication such as blood pressure medication would it make a difference? What are the legal ramifications should there be any harmful reactions? Does the doctrine of respondeat superior protect Jerry from any lawsuits? The answers to these questions are discussed within this paper. As a medical assistant Jerry McCall is trained to perform administrative and medical duties to maintain the smooth operation of the healthcare facility. He reports to the office manager and the physician, as he goes about performing his duties. Medical assistants are not physician’s assistants and do not have the training that a physician’s assistant has to examine, diagnose, and treat patients. As a medical assistant the administrative duties include updating and filing medical records, complete insurance claim forms, set up hospital admissions and lab appointments. When acting...
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...Ethics Case Study: Jerry McCall Evanie N Williams HCS/335 December 31, 2013 University Of Phoenix Ethics Case Study It’s important that those who work in the medical field know their scope of practice and keep within their professions guidelines. The following case study will discuss an issue a medical assistant/LPN has encountered during his shift at Dr. Williams’s office and why the assistant must act under his scope of practice. Case: Jerry McCall is Dr. Williams’s office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and a LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. He says that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. No one except Jerry is in the office at this time. 1) Dose Jerry’s medical training qualify him to issue this refill order? Why or why not? No, Jerry’s medical training does not qualify him to issue refills on the patient’s Valium order. Jerry McCall is both a medical assistant and an LPN (license practical nurse) neither certificate nor license grants the ability to write prescriptions. Medical assistants are unlicensed health care personnel that can only preform non-invasive technical support under the supervision of a licensed...
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...Ethics Case Study Name HCS/335 Date Professor Ethics Case Study Today’s healthcare professionals are immersed in an ever-changing environment. The advent of managed care, a variety of medical practice arrangements, and a multitude of healthcare specialty areas have resulted in the continual need to understand healthcare law. Unfortunately, due to the rise of malpractice suits, many physicians are protecting themselves by ordering multiple testing procedures, some of which might not be needed. In addition, many patients no longer want older, more conservative approaches to testing and diagnosis – and these newer tests are more expensive. All healthcare professionals need to pay attention to the wishes of their patients. And in the circumstances where the patients has given family members or others authority to make a healthcare decision on their behalf, healthcare professionals must respect the patient’s wishes. They also should use care not to place their own opinions ahead of the decisions of physicians or other healthcare professionals made in consultation with the patient. As with the case of Jerry McCall, his job is an Office Assistant and Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner's specialty. In small...
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...Ethics Case Study HCS/335 July 30, 2012 Ken Parker Ethics Case Study The below case study is about an assistant, Jerry McCall who is put in an unethical situation at his bosses office, Dr. Williams. In the case study Jerry is asked to refill a prescription called Valium for a patient. The patient is flying out of town in a half hour and is also a close friend to Dr. Williams. Jerry is left in the doctor’s office alone as he debates whether to refill the prescription or not. Since Jerry is an assistant to Dr. Williams, he has certain responsibilities and duties that include answering phones and responding to patient request in an ethical manner. Jerry also has a limited amount of clinical training, which makes the situation worse since Jerry is not qualified to refill prescriptions. LPN’s and medical assistants do not have the authority to refill prescriptions. Dr. Williams is the only one authorized to write the patient prescriptions and to authorize refills. By the patient being the doctors close friend does not change the situation. I am sure the doctor has a lot of close friends but it is unethical for his assistant to authorize refills to his friends who are also patients. It doesn’t matter if the prescription is for high blood pressure or not, the ethical answer should still be no. As an assistant to Dr. Williams’s, Jerry is only trained and allowed to call in refills or prescriptions that are approved by Dr. Williams first, no exceptions. If Jerry...
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...Ethics Case Study March 26, 2012 HCS 335 Ethics Case Study: Jerry McCall Introduction 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 (Fremgen, 2009). Strong workplace and interpersonal ethics are essential to any career, but especially so in health care wherein professionals encounter people from all lifestyles, life and death situations, and further circumstances people in other professions do not face. One such situation is the case study involving Dr. William’s office assistant, Jerry McCall. While sitting in for the receptionist, Jerry receives a phone call from a long-time patient needing a last-minute refill called in for his antidepressant, Valium, before taking a flight. The patient tells Jerry Dr. Williams is a close friend. Jerry has some professional medical assistant and LPN training, but has no certification in either field, and no one else is available to fill the patient’s prescription. This study will examine if Jerry is qualified to call in the refill, bearing on the situation if the patient had critical need for the medication, and the ethical and legal stipulations and consequences concerned depending on Jerry’s possible choices. Qualifications A health care professional must have specific qualifications and certifications to order medication refills for patients (Fremgen, 2009). While...
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...Ethics Case Study 1 Lynette A. Volk HCS/335 March 31st, 2-14 Beryl Keegan Abstract Jerry McCall is an employee in a medical office for a Dr. Williams and is professionally trained as both a medical assistant and as a licensed practical purse. While Jerry is alone in the office and the receptionist is at lunch, a patient calls and is requesting a refill for an antidepressant medication, Valium, and states he needs the refill right away, as he is leaving for the airport in 30 minutes. The patient is stating that the doctor is a personal friend of his and that the doctor always orders him a small supply before flying. Jerry must wrestle with the ethical dilemma of what he wants to do and what is legally and ethically the correct thing to do. This paper will determine that Jerry is not legally qualified to refill the valium, or any other medication as it is not within his scope of practice. Ethics Case Study 1 Jerry McCall’s professional training as an LPN and medical assistant does not qualify him to refill the valium order for a patient because it isn’t within a medical assistant’s or an LPN’s scope of practice. Only a physician or physician’s assistant can prescribe and refill prescriptions because they are trained to do so. Jerry has been formally trained and therefore knows what he is not qualified to refill any medications, especially valium, a antidepressant and a controlled substance. It doesn’t make a difference whether it was controlled substance, a blood...
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...Ethics Case Study Ethics Case Study Nikki Gabel HCS/335 12-9-2013 Ethics Case Study The case study of Jerry McCall is a an example of a situation where someone is faced with stretching the legal and ethical limits of their medical training and making decisions that they are not qualified to make. Jerry is a medical assistant and is an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) but he has no authority to prescribe medications to anyone for any reason. The training he received allows him to take vitals, care for and dress wounds, monitor patients in a hospital setting, and give injections but only with the supervision of a physician. Jerry is also trained to offer clerical, administrative, and technical support to physicians. The study says that the patient calling in is a personal friend of the doctor that Jerry works for and is requesting a medication refill right now because he is to be catching a flight very soon and the medication, Valium, is to help with his anxiety about the flight. No matter what kind of medication the patient is asking for or who the patient is, Jerry does not have the authority to approve any medications for anyone. If Jerry were to approve the medication himself without the physicians approval and the patient had an adverse reaction he could lose his LPN license and could be fined. Respondeat Superior is a legal doctrine that is defined as, “A legal doctrine that holds the employer or principal responsible for the acts of its employees or...
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...Running Head: Ethics Case Study Ethics Case Study Keisha Black HCS/335 August 29, 2011 Robert King Abstract * The purpose of this paper is to review a case study and give an opinion on whether Jerry the doctor's assistance is using ethical and legal measures in his job. The paper will also review the decisions that Jerry might have made and major issues that may affect that decision. The paper will also give information on the malpractice lawsuit jerry might face and the readers advice to him, and what problem-solving methods might be helpful to assist in making an ethical decision. In the case study we will be reviewing Jerry McCall, Dr. William's office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and a LPN and he is responsible for handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. Jerry is now alone in the office and a patient calls and requested that he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. The patient said Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. Health care practitioners and organizations are faced with many ethical challenges daily, It is up to them to make a legal decision to protect themselves and employers in these situation. In this scenario Jerry' medical training does not qualify him to issue the refill order...
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...Ethics Case Study Stacey HCS/335 September 22, 2011 Dr. Lawrence Fergus Ethics Case Study The purpose of this paper is to discuss a hypothetical case analysis involving Dr. Williams’ office assistant Jerry McCall. Jerry was in the office answering phones while the receptionist was at lunch when he received a call from a patient who stated he had an urgent need for a prescription called into the pharmacy. The patient was leaving town within minutes and needed the medication prior to catching his flight. The paper will discuss Jerry’s qualifications to write prescription medications. The doctrine of respondeat superior and how it applies to Jerry in this situation is discussed. Problem-solving methods and major legal and ethical issues that would be helpful in Jerry’s decision making are also conferred. Scope of Practice Jerry McCall is Dr. Williams’ office assistant. He is received training as both a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a Medical Assistant (MA). However, according to the scope of practice of both an LPN and MA, neither is permitted to write prescriptions and call them into the pharmacy (Fremgen, B., 2009). An MA’s scope of practice does not allow for them to write, refill, or call in prescription medications under any circumstances. This practice does not fall within their scope of practice and doing so would be unethical and illegal. Writing prescriptions is not in the scope of practice of an LPN and therefore Jerry should not write this prescription...
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...Ethics Case Study XXXXXXXXXX HCS/335 May 2, 2011 Beryl Keegan, RN, BSN, MSN/HCE, CCRN, CLNC Ethics Case Study "Jerry McCall is Dr. William's office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and a LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. He says that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. No one except Jerry is in the office at this time. What should he do" (Fremgen, 2009, p. 85)? Medical ethics is a subject open to much interpretation and is prone to many grey area's without definite answers. In the case of Jerry McCall, Medical Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse and Office Assistant the rationale, ethical and legal, for not refilling a prescription without physician consent are justified. If Mr. McCall chooses to refill the unauthorized prescription and the patient has an adverse reaction, his employer, Dr. William's can be held legally responsible for the committed tort even though he is personally without fault (Regan & Regan, 2002). Ethical and legal ramifications are at stake; using effective problem-solving methods to assist with decision making can help to avert a problematic outcome. Qualifications Required for Authorizing Prescriptions ...
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...Case Study of Jerry McCall Debra Dean, RN University of Phoenix HCS/335 Ethics: Health Care and Social Responsibility Instructor Katherine Rossiter Jerry McCall is an office assistant for Dr. Williams. Jerry has had training as both an LPN and medical assistant. While answering a patient call Jerry is asked to refill a patient’s valium prescription. Dr. Williams in not in the office at this time. This patient claims to be a personal friend of Dr. Williams and states that the physician always calls in a prescription for valium before he takes a trip due to his anxiety when flying and he will be leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. This poses both an ethical and legal dilemma for Jerry. Often medical assistants or office nurses are asked to call in prescriptions for the physician. This practice frees up the physician so that they may have more time to spend with patients and to tend to other duties that are required of them. The LPN may not call in a prescription including a prescription to renew or extend a medication that has not originated from the prescriber or physician ( Minnesota State Board of Nursing, n.d.). According to Drug Enforcement Administration ( 2010) “While the core responsibilities pertaining to prescribing controlled substances may not be delegated to anyone else, an individual practitioner may authorize an agent to perform a limited role in communicating such prescriptions to a pharmacy in order to make the prescription process more...
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...Case Study of Jerry McCall Carolyn Ervin HCS/335 April 13, 2015 Christine Singel This case study is based on Jerry McCall, being Dr. Williams’s office assistant, and being that he has received professional training as a LPN, and a medical assistant. While the assistant is at lunch Jerry is handling all phone calls, but, while Jerry was their one of the doctor’s patients called that needed a refill for Valium, and that is an antidepressant medication. So, happens the patient is needed of a refill right away because he is leaving out of town, and by being a personal friend of Dr. Williams he supply him with small doses of Valium frequently. However, Jerry is the only one in the office. Fremgen Ph.D. (2009), “Jerry is a trained licensed practical nurse, and a medical assistant but, Jerry must follow the law of study that he was trained and licensed.” When you are a medical assistant that do not give you the authority to write any prescriptions but, by Jerry being licensed in another state he cannot write the prescription but, Jerry LPN license can permit him to for certain medication but, he is limited. No, Jerry should not refill the prescription that the patient is requesting because Valium is a controlled substance, and Jerry need to explain to the patient that he is unable to do that request he must talk with Dr. Williams, and that he can call him, and explain the situation, and if Dr. Williams approve the refill then the refill will be filled. Furthermore...
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...Ethics Case Study HCS/335 October 7, 2013 Linda Hagler-Reid, MBA Introduction Jerry McCall is Dr. William’s office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and a Licensed Practicing Nurse (LPN). He is handling all of the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. He says that Dr. William’s is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. No one except Jerry is in the office at this time. Does Jerry’s medical training qualify him to issue this refill order? Why or why not? The American Association of Medical Assistants was established in 1955, a decade considered to be the golden age of medicine, as medical research blazed through the first half of the century. Its creed reflects this perception: “I believe in the principles and purposes of the profession of medical assisting. I endeavor to be more effective. I aspire to render greater service. I protect the confidence entrusted to me. I am dedicated to the care and well-being of all people. I am loyal to my employer. I am true to the ethics of my profession. I am strengthened by compassion, courage and faith.” Though medicine’s golden age may be behind it, its ethics remain firmly in place. Medical assistants serve the public with an ethical obligation...
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...Ethics Case Study Brenda Gary HCS/335 Ethics: Health Care and Social Responsibility February 21, 2012 Ken Parker Ethics Case Study The health care system of today is different from that of the past. Incidents of patient injuries that would have gone ignored by the family or patient in the past are now the basis for malpractice lawsuits. The issue today for most health care facilities is liability. The law on torte and negligence (2012) sees liability as a major risk not only for the physician but also for allied healthcare professionals working under the direct supervision of a medical supervisor, such as a medical assistant. When a medical assistant takes it upon himself to perform tasks outside the scope of his training or skills, the physician may be liable for any injuries or damages caused by the employee. Jerry McCall In this scenario, Jerry McCall, is an office assistant who has training as a medical assistant and Licensed Practical Nurse. He receives a phone call from a patient requesting a Valium refill before a plane ride. The patient stresses that he is leaving for the airport within thirty minutes and that Dr. Williams (whom Jerry work for) is a friend who gives him a small supply of the antidepressant Valium when he has to fly. Jerry is the only person in the office at the time of the call and has to decide what to do. Though Jerry may want to help the patient, he cannot. Jerry is a trained professional but he does not have the authority to...
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...Ethics Case Study HCS/335 April 6, 2015 Beryl Keegan Ethics is a very important aspect in someone life either it’s from a professional or personal stand point. With having ethics help individuals with determining whether their action is right or wrong. Interpersonal ethics are essential within any career. Healthcare is a number one profession where ethics is essential, due to the fact you are dealing people from all different type of lifestyles and situations. In this case study, Jerry McCall is Dr.Williams office assistant. He has received professional training in both a medical assistant and LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium and antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. H states Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him supply of Valium when he as to fly. Only Jerry is in the office at this time. Jerry is unable to provide the patient with the medication that he needs for his flight. When prescribing a medication the prescribed practioner is responsible in case the prescription given cause any harm or doesn’t conform in all essential respect the law and regulations."(Federal Register Volume 75, Number 193). Jerry needs to apologize for the inconvience and advise the patient under the penalty...
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