...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 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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...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 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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...Kimberly McGeehan University of Phoenix HCS/335 Professor William Bross July 3, 2011 Ethics Case Study Introduction There are two things first to understand about ethics. First, ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that tells what individuals should do, in terms of the right, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethical standards include those that are virtue of honesty, compassion, and loyalty. Ethics are adequate standards of because they are supported by consistent and founded reasons. The second thing about ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. Feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical. 1. Does Jerry’s medical training qualify him to issue this refill order? Why or why not? Jerry’s medical training does not qualify him to issue a refill order because the patient’s physician is the only one that can issue a prescription and in this case Jerry is not this patient’s physician. Supposing Jerry called in a prescription, and the patient had an adverse reaction, there would be a big lawsuit against Jerry. Not only Jerry, but his employer also would be facing malpractice. If an employee makes a mistake then it is the employer is responsible for the actions of their employees. Jerry should explain to the patients that he is not authorized to issue any prescriptions of any kind. 2. Would it make a difference if the medication requested were for control of high...
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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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...Administrative Ethics: Advances in Lung Cancer Care HCS/335 Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 Administrative Ethics: Advances in Lung Cancer Care In this paper, there will be a description of what the newspaper article covers about Lung Cancer treatment plus the population this issue affects the most. Examples the article uses to argue or present facts supporting the treatment research of Lung Cancer Patients, explanation of ethical and legal issues do to the involvement this article is talking about, explanation of the managerial responsibilities related to administrative ethic issues, and identification of proposals to create solutions. Description of Newspaper Article and Those It Affects “More Americans die from lung cancer each year than from breast, colon and prostate cancers combined, according to the National Institutes of Health. But it has long suffered from a stigma because of its association with smoking, receiving far less research funding than other forms of cancer.” (Thoms, 2012, para. 5-6) In reading the above quote it should inspire some to promote more research completion in the area of Lung Cancer. Factual information such as this is what makes the medical professionals working in the area of Lung Cancer Treatment want to bring this awareness to the general public. Each day these professionals go to their careers and have to witness his or her patients suffering from this horrible disease. Their hands are tied on providing more...
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...Ethics Case Study Jessica Bamsey HCS 335 March 19, 2012 Robert Vella Ethics Case Study The case study described below is one of different opinions. The views explained are those of mine. Someone else may have a different view, which is perfectly normal. This is a case of legal issues and ethical issues. Knowing how to handle oneself in this scenario is critical so that they will not make mistakes when they are put into this situation. The situation involves a medical assistant who is the only person in the office when a patient calls and wants a refill called into the pharmacy. The prescription was for Valium so that he could get on an airplane. The assistant should not call in the order. Jerry’s medical training does not qualify him to refill this order. There are several reasons he is not qualified. One reason is because he is not a doctor. Doctors are the only ones that can prescribe and order refills on prescriptions. Another reason is because is the guy a patient of Dr. Williams or just a personal friend whom he gives medications to. When a person is a medical assistant or an LPN they are there to assist the doctor with taking vitals, discovering why the patient has come to the office, answer phones when necessary, and give shots. They cannot write prescriptions or call them in. It does not matter if it is for a blood pressure medication needed on a daily basis or not. The same rules apply. There are reasons only a doctor can prescribe medication. The reasons...
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...Ethics Case Study Susan M. Brandt HCS/335 February 12, 2012 Professor Beryl Keegan University of Phoenix/Axia Ethics Case Study When we look at health care professionals they are immersed in ever-changing environments. In this case study it is important to know and understand how people face different situations within their everyday lives. Health care has been the main focus for individuals that have anything wrong with them such as an illness or a disease. People that are going through something like this go through a lot and they all have different ways of dealing with the issues. Organizational ethics should also influence both role conflict and mindfulness (Valentine, Godkin, & Varca, July). There are two things that we must understand when it comes to understanding ethics. First, ethics refers to the well-founded standards of both doing right and wrong this tells us what individuals should do, when looking at terms of the right, obligations that benefits to society, fairness or specific virtues. Ethical standards include those that are virtue of honesty, compassion, and loyalty. Ethics are adequate standards of because they are supported by consistent and founded reasons. The second thing to take into consideration about ethics is that ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. Feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical. 1. Does Jerry’s medical training qualify him...
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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 Angela Gentile HCS/335 May 21, 2012 Claudia Unrein This paper is on an ethics case study, I will first explain the case study, and address why the person involved is not qualified to refill prescription medication. Also does it matter if the medication is on a daily need bases, and will that person be protected from a lawsuit? All these questions will be answered, so let me give you a little background on the case and some definition that might help you understand the circumstances. “Case Study: 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 the 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.” (Fremgen (2009) pg.85. Definitions: “CMA, certified medical assistant, duties are grouped into two categories: administrative and clinical. Work in a variety of healthcare settings including physician’s offices, and clinics. Must graduate from an accredited program and pass a national certification exam. “LPN, licensed practical nurse, performs some of the same, but not all, tasks as the registered nurse. Must graduate...
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...Ethics Case Study Kimberly Peralta HCS/335 April 19, 2011 Terry Matherne Jerry McCall is Dr. Williams’ 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? Ethics Case Study – Jerry McCall As an office assistant Jerry has certain duties and obligations to fulfill within his field of study, knowledge, and expertise. In this case as an office assistant Jerry has the authority and obligation to answer all phone calls and respond to them promptly, ethically, and efficiently. In this case the office assistant not only has administrative training but a limited amount of clinical training, the amount of clinical training that he does have does not qualify him to issue this refill. As an office assistant Jerry has the authority to call in only prescriptions or refills approved by the doctor. In this case as he is the only one in the office he should explain the situation to the patient and let him know that he will try his best to get in touch with Dr. Williams in order to have this...
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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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...Ethics Case Study Kathy Conway HCS/335 January 0, 2012 James Dockins Ethics Case Study The role of the office medical assistant varies greatly from not only state to state but from office to office as well. Most states however do require some type of formal training and there are different levels of what the assistant is allowed to do depending on the levels of education and certifications. Medical assistants are not the same as physician assistants and so the medical assistant requires a physician to be present when treating a patient. The role of most medical assistants is more of an administrative nature, they work alongside the physician and other staff member doing what is necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the practice (London, 2011). There are many things an office assistant can do to assist in the daily operations of a physician’s practice besides answering a telephone. They may help obtain the patients health histories, the reason for that day’s visit, and the taking of vital signs. They are allowed to do so because the physician is right there in the office and not outside the building (London, 2011). Jerry McCall Jerry McCall has a big dilemma because he is the only one in the office at the time a call comes into the office for a last minute refill of a prescription. The dilemma is that the patient needs a prescription of Valium refilled before he heads to the airport and only has a very...
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...Ethics Case Study HCS/335 Ethics Case Study There are many situations in which ethics come into play, especially concerning the healthcare industry. Day-to-say operations require employees to know how to handle certain situation in the most ethical way possible. The refill of a controlled substance such as Valium, an antidepressant medication, is just one example of how knowing what the responsible and ethical thing to do can be crucial in the workplace. Jerry McCall currently works as an office assistant within the medical practice of Dr. Williams. Jerry has professional training as both a medical assistant and as an LPN. On this particular day Jerry is covering for a receptionist during their lunch break by answering any phone calls that the medical office receives. One of the phone calls that Jerry answers is in regards to a patient who states they must have a refill on their prescription od Valium. The patient states that the prescription must be called into his pharmacy right away because he is leaving for the airport in 30 minutes. The patient also states that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always supplies him with valium when he has to fly. Jerry is currently the only employee at the office that can make the decision of what to do (Fremgen, 2009). The first thing that needs to be addresses in this situation is whether or not Jerry’s medical training qualifies him to issue the refill of this medication. Although Jerry has medical training...
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